Optimisation of the seedball technology for sorghum production under nutrient limitations

The seedball technology is a simple and affordable seed-pelleting technique that uses locally available materials such as sand, loam, wood ash and seeds to enhance early crop establishment. It has been shown to be effective for pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) subsistence production in S...

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Main Authors: Charles Ikenna Nwankwo, Ludger Herrmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kassel University Press 2021-04-01
Series:Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jarts.info/index.php/jarts/article/view/202102113204
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spelling doaj-6dfef71bf0464420923279b70ed5dab62021-05-06T11:43:05ZengKassel University PressJournal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics1612-98302363-60332021-04-0112215359doi:10.17170/kobra-202102113204Optimisation of the seedball technology for sorghum production under nutrient limitationsCharles Ikenna Nwankwo0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5552-9900Ludger Herrmann1University of Hohenheim, Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Stuttgart, GermanyUniversity of Hohenheim, Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Stuttgart, GermanyThe seedball technology is a simple and affordable seed-pelleting technique that uses locally available materials such as sand, loam, wood ash and seeds to enhance early crop establishment. It has been shown to be effective for pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) subsistence production in Sahelian environments. The objective of this study was to optimise the seedball technology for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) under greenhouse conditions. Series of pot experiments were conducted in order to identify optimal size, seed number as well as nutrient content under low- and normal-soil phosphorus availability. The identified optimal seedball formula for sorghum is: 80 g sand + 50 g loam + 25 ml water + about 20 seeds. As maximum 1.5 g NPK mineral fertiliser can be added as nutrient compound. Compared to the control treatment, seedballs significantly improved root and shoot biomass variables as well as nutrient uptake of sorghum seedlings grown for 19 days. The lower the substrate P level, the better the biomass enhancement effect of seedballs, i.e. likely caused by nutrient availability. The next step is on-farm field testing under Sahelian conditions.https://jarts.info/index.php/jarts/article/view/202102113204staple cerealsaheldry sowingsubsistence farminglocal resourcesseed coating
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Charles Ikenna Nwankwo
Ludger Herrmann
spellingShingle Charles Ikenna Nwankwo
Ludger Herrmann
Optimisation of the seedball technology for sorghum production under nutrient limitations
Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics
staple cereal
sahel
dry sowing
subsistence farming
local resources
seed coating
author_facet Charles Ikenna Nwankwo
Ludger Herrmann
author_sort Charles Ikenna Nwankwo
title Optimisation of the seedball technology for sorghum production under nutrient limitations
title_short Optimisation of the seedball technology for sorghum production under nutrient limitations
title_full Optimisation of the seedball technology for sorghum production under nutrient limitations
title_fullStr Optimisation of the seedball technology for sorghum production under nutrient limitations
title_full_unstemmed Optimisation of the seedball technology for sorghum production under nutrient limitations
title_sort optimisation of the seedball technology for sorghum production under nutrient limitations
publisher Kassel University Press
series Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics
issn 1612-9830
2363-6033
publishDate 2021-04-01
description The seedball technology is a simple and affordable seed-pelleting technique that uses locally available materials such as sand, loam, wood ash and seeds to enhance early crop establishment. It has been shown to be effective for pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) subsistence production in Sahelian environments. The objective of this study was to optimise the seedball technology for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) under greenhouse conditions. Series of pot experiments were conducted in order to identify optimal size, seed number as well as nutrient content under low- and normal-soil phosphorus availability. The identified optimal seedball formula for sorghum is: 80 g sand + 50 g loam + 25 ml water + about 20 seeds. As maximum 1.5 g NPK mineral fertiliser can be added as nutrient compound. Compared to the control treatment, seedballs significantly improved root and shoot biomass variables as well as nutrient uptake of sorghum seedlings grown for 19 days. The lower the substrate P level, the better the biomass enhancement effect of seedballs, i.e. likely caused by nutrient availability. The next step is on-farm field testing under Sahelian conditions.
topic staple cereal
sahel
dry sowing
subsistence farming
local resources
seed coating
url https://jarts.info/index.php/jarts/article/view/202102113204
work_keys_str_mv AT charlesikennanwankwo optimisationoftheseedballtechnologyforsorghumproductionundernutrientlimitations
AT ludgerherrmann optimisationoftheseedballtechnologyforsorghumproductionundernutrientlimitations
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