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Management Options for Intensifying Millet Based Crop Production Systems on Sandy Soils in the Sahel

OAR@ICRISAT

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/4495/
 
Title Management Options for Intensifying Millet Based Crop Production Systems on Sandy Soils in the Sahel
 
Creator Klaij, M C
Serafini, P G
 
Subject Millets
 
Description Pearl millet [Pennbelum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a
major staple crop grown on 14 millton ha ofthe semi-arid
Sahellan and Sudanian ecological zones. The crop is
generally grown in association with cowpea [VLgna
ungulculata (L.) Walpl by subsistence fanners using
manual labor for all cropping operations. Chemlcal
fertilizers are rarely applled. Cash Inputs for crop husbandry
are llmited to the occasional hiring of labor.
Labor shortages are most severe for weeding operations.
The millet-growing area in Niger has doubled to 3.2
mllllon ha during the last 25 years, while average grain
yields have dropped from 0.48 Mg/ha to 0.30 Mg/ha
(Anonymous, 1987). The decllne in yields suggest8 that:
productlon has expanded into lncreaaingly marglnal
areas, fallow periods have become too short to allow
natural restoration of fertlllty, and technical change hae
not yet had an impact on food productlon (Spencer,
19851. In the future, it will be necessary for production
increases to come from increased yields. Experience at
the ICRISAT Sahellan Center (ISC) leads us to believe
yleld increases are technically feasible if the principal
limitlng factors-inherently low soil fertility, limited and
untlmely cultural practices, and the occurrence of drought
periods-are overcome (Fussell et at.. 1987: Klaij and
Hoogrnoed, 1987).
 
Date 1988
 
Type Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Rights —
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/4495/1/CP_453.pdf
Klaij, M C and Serafini, P G (1988) Management Options for Intensifying Millet Based Crop Production Systems on Sandy Soils in the Sahel. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Dryland Farming, August 15-19, 1988, Amarillo/Bushland, Texas U. S.A..