The potential of organic fertilizer application on the production and bromatological composition of millet (Cenchrus americanu)

Abstract

The production of millet has been increasing in Brazil, principally as a cover crop and for animal feeding. However, there is little information about the responses of millet crops to application of fertilizer, including organic fertilizers. The aim of this study was to quantify the agronomic features and the bromatological composition of millet following application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The experiment was carried out in completely randomized blocks with 4 fertilizer treatments: cattle manure, poultry compost, chemical fertilizer and a Control, each with 4 replications. Plant height, stem diameter, number of tillers and leaves, number, length, diameter and mass of the panicle, 1,000-grain weight, plant dry matter yield, chlorophyll index and bromatological composition of grain and whole plant were evaluated. All treatments that received fertilizer, regardless of the source, showed better performance than the Control, but only cattle manure produced significant responses in DM yield (P<0.10). Fertilizer application did not affect the bromatological composition of millet plants and grains. Further studies are warranted on these soils to determine the justification for applying any fertilizer to millet crops, whether inorganic or organic.

Effects of Hanwoo (Korean cattle) manure as organic fertilizer on plant growth, feed quality, and soil bacterial community

“…Crude ash is related to the content of inorganic substances such as Ca, P, and Mg. In a previous study, the ash content in whole millet plants was increased by cattle manure and decreased by CF compared to NT; however, there were no significant differences in ash content among the different treatments ( Raimundo et al., 2022 ). The crude ash content of onions was higher in the organic fertilizer-treated groups than in the control group without fertilization ( Olle and Williams, 2014 ).…”