Response of Pearl Millet(Pennisetum typhoides (Burm F.) to Different Fertilizer Applications under Field Conditions

Aims: To study and compare the response of Pearl millet to organic manure, NPK fertilizer, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as biofertilizer.

Study Design: The study employed a Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with a split-split arrangement and the treatments were replicated four times each.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted under field conditions during the rainy season of 2020 at the Agriculture Research and Demonstration Farm Land, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Methodology: Pearl millet seeds were planted under three (inorganic, organic and biofertilizer) fertilizer applications and monitored for growth over a period of 60 days. Plant growth parameters were measured appropriately and statistically analyzed.

Results: Results indicated that NPK significantly (P < 0.05) improved the growth of millet, with mean shoot heights of 142.45 ± 10.0 cm and mean shoot diameter of 5.70 cm. Leaf area was negatively affected by fertilizer application with the smallest (885.53 ± 0.49) cm2 and largest (1070.91 ± 6.0 cm2) areas observed in plants of the control and biofertilizer treated soil respectively. The mean root lengths ranged from 34.75 cm to 58.50 cm and dry shoot biomass ranged from 2.16 g to 15.45 g with more biomass in plants treated with NPK. Plant root colonization was however greater (40%) in plants treated with biofertilizer than in all the remaining treatments (0.71%). The shoot lengths, stem diameters, leaf growth, and root biomass was also enhanced by biofertilizer application when compared to those treated with organic manure and the controls

Conclusion: A positive response was observed using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as biofertilizer and its application could serve better in millet cultivation where inorganic and organic fertilizers are undesirable or inaccessible.