Effect of Land Configuration and Crop Residue – Mulch on Millet Performance in Minna, Savanna of Nigeria

Abstract

A 2 x 3 factorial experiment was conducted in cropping season at the old Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Technology, Minna, to determine the effect of land configuration and crop residue – mulch on the growth and yield of millet in Minna, Southern guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. It was a randomized complete block design with two types of land configuration (ridge and flat surface) and three mulch application rates (0, 10 and 15 t/ha), replicated three times. Composite soil samples were collected from the experimental site at 0 – 15 and 15 – 30 cm depths prior to the commencement of this study, for the determination of initial soil physicochemical properties. Crop growth parameters measured were plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant and leaf area index at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks after planting. Yield indices determined were panicle length and stover yield. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance at 0.05 level of significance, while means separation was done using Duncan’s multiple range test. Findings in this study showed that planting on ridge resulted in taller (P ≤ 0.05) millet plants and a higher number of leaves per plant, a higher number of tillers per plant and higher leaf area index than planting on the flat. Plant height, the number of leaves per plant, the number of tillers per plant, leaf area index, panicle length and stover yield increased with increasing mulch application rates.