The Response of Sorghum, Groundnut, Sesame, and Cowpea to Seed Priming and Fertilizer Micro-Dosing in South Kordofan State, Sudan

Abdalla, Elgailani A.; Osman, Abdelrahman Khidir; Maki, Mahmoud A.; Nur, Fadlalmaola M.; Ali, Salah B.; Aune, Jens B.

doi:10.3390/agronomy5040476

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…This combination in turn further reduce the vulnerability of maize to the impact of rainfall variability and terminal drought in the central Rift Valley. These results are consistent with other results that seed priming and fertilizer micro‐dosing improves agronomic and economic returns of millet in low‐rainfall regions of Mali (Aune et al, ), of sorghum, sesame, groundnut, and cowpea in the semi‐arid Sudan (Abdalla et al, ), and of maize in semi‐arid Ethiopia (Sime & Aune, ). Since seed priming reduces the risk of crop failure, it could therefore improve the interest of farmers to use fertilizers in maize production, with the combination being a preferable option.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Studies in the central Rift Valley of Ethiopia showed that seasonal rainfall is highly unpredictable and variable with high risks of crop failure and low productivity (Belay et al, ), which escalates farmers’ risk‐averse behavior, discouraging them from investing in expensive fertilizers (Kassie et al, ). Previous studies concluded that on‐farm seed priming is a simple, low cost, low risk intervention that represents a good insurance for risk‐averse, resource‐poor farmers (Abdalla et al, ; Aune & Ousman, ; Camara et al, ; Hayashi et al, ; Osman et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, in the low‐rainfall Africa, it increased yield in maize in Zimbabwe (Harris et al, ), in sorghum and millet in Sudan (Aune & Ousman, ), and in pearl millet in Mali (Aune et al, ). Additionally, the combination of seed priming with micro‐dosing improves agronomic and economic returns in millet in low‐rainfall regions in Mali (Aune et al, ), in sorghum and millet in west Africa, in sorghum and millet in Sudan (Aune & Ousman, ), in sorghum, groundnut, sesame, and cowpea in Sudan (Abdalla et al, ), and in maize in Ethiopia (Sime & Aune, ). Such a combination also decreases the risk of investing in fertilizer, keeping the value cost ratio above the minimum requirement (Aune et al, ; Sime & Aune, ).…”

Section: Potential Of Seed Priming Fertilizer Micro‐dosing and Theimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In association with seed priming, the other technology that can increase the productivity of maize in the semi‐tropics is fertilizer micro‐dosing (Abdalla et al, ; Camara et al, ; Sime & Aune, ). There are few reports on the combined effect of seed priming and fertilizer micro‐dosing on crop production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On‐farm seed priming and fertilizer micro‐dosing: Agronomic and economic responses of maize in semi‐arid Ethiopia

Sime

Aune

2019

Food and Energy Security

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On‐farm seed priming has been reported to improve emergence, crop establishment, and yield besides improving economic benefits in dryland agriculture. These benefits can further be improved by fertilizer micro‐dosing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of on‐farm seed priming and fertilizer micro‐dosing on the agronomic and economic returns of maize (Zea mays L. var. Melkassa‐2) in semi‐arid agro‐ecological conditions in Ethiopia. The experiments consisted of four treatments: no priming and no fertilizer; no priming and fertilizer; priming and no fertilizer; and priming and fertilizer. The experiments were conducted in three locations viz., Melkassa, Ziway, and Hawassa in the central Rift Valley. Analysis of variance for each location was performed separately at p ˂ .05. Results of each location were similar over the experimentation years, and hence, there was no need for carrying out combined analysis. Regardless of fertilization, primed plants showed faster emergence; better uniform crop stands; more vigorous plants; earlier flowering; earlier harvest; and higher grain and stover yield than no primed plants. Germination was 2–3 days earlier, and flowering and maturation of primed plants were 10 to 13 days earlier than no primed plants. Average grain yield increased by 11, 8, and 6% in Melkassa, Ziway, and Hawassa, respectively, by priming over no priming. Fertilizer micro‐dosing combined with priming further improved most of the agronomic characters. Fertilizer micro‐dosing combined with priming increased the average grain yield by 75, 69, and 33% in Melkassa, Ziway, and Hawassa, respectively. The economic returns also increased in the same pattern as the agronomic responses for priming, micro‐dosing or their combination. To realize the potential of seed priming of increasing agronomic performances, future research and development efforts should focus on understanding the possible underling physiological and biochemical basis of this poorly understood process with the different priming techniques.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Of Seed Priming Fertilizer Micro‐dosing and Theimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

On‐farm seed priming and fertilizer micro‐dosing: Agronomic and economic responses of maize in semi‐arid Ethiopia

Sime

Aune

2019

Food and Energy Security

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“…For the related cereal species, Sorghum, a recent study in Sudan (at 12°N) found a manifest effect on yield (27% to 76% increase) using hydropriming of seeds in areas having around 600 mm annual rainfall; the strongest effect was observed in plots also receiving a high dose of mineral fertilizer, and all seeds were treated with pesticide after drying (Abdalla et al, 2015). All the three aforementioned studies, have applied 8 h of soaking and 1 to 2 h for drying of seeds.…”

Section: Comparison To Other Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydropriming of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) in Northern and Central Burkina Faso applying six hours of soaking and overnight drying of seeds

Zida¹,

eya²,

Soalla³

et al. 2017

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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Hydropriming of pearl millet seeds was tested during two growing seasons in Burkina Faso. A total of 32 field experiments were distributed equally between two agro-ecological zones: The Northern zone receiving on average less than 600 mm annual precipitation and the Central zone receiving 600 to 900 mm. Hydropriming was performed by soaking of seeds in water for 6 h, followed by air-drying overnight. In the Northern zone, an increase of both emergence and yield was observed for hydroprimed seeds in both years of testing. This was reflected by a higher yield observed in 13 out of 16 field experiments, increased median yield (+159 kg/ha; p<0.0053) and an increase of the relative yield by +29% as a field average (p<0.000054). In contrast, in the Central zone a net negative effect on crop emergence was observed in both years, and only 5 out of 16 field experiments showed a yield increase for hydroprimed seeds. Meteorological data confirmed the difference in rainfall between the two zones. Hydropriming by 6 h of soaking and drying of seeds overnight appears as a simple method to increase yield of pearl millet significantly in the most arid out of two agro-ecological zones tested in Burkina Faso. Drying of seeds overnight is a novel agronomically feasible approach, allowing a full day for subsequent sowing.

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Factors driving cereal response to fertilizer microdosing in sub‐Saharan Africa: A meta‐analysis

et al. 2020

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Fertilizer microdosing (FM) is being promoted in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) to boost crop productivity on smallholder farms. However, yield response variability is a barrier to adoption. We conducted a meta‐analysis to analyze the variability in cereal crop yield response to FM and to determine the main factors associated with this variability. Thirty publications pertaining to millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) or maize (Zea mays L.) were assessed. Factors analyzed were crop type, rainfall, soil texture, type and rate of fertilizer, and complementary practices. On average, FM improved millet, sorghum and maize crop yields by 68%. Yield response tended to increase with increasing rainfall and the largest yield gains were observed in medium‐textured soils (81%), as compared to light (61%) and heavy‐textured soils (30%). The combined application of N and P performed better than either element alone. Crop response tended to increase with increasing rates of N. In the case of P, this was true only on light textured‐soils. On medium‐textured soils, the response appeared independent of the rate of P. There was a synergetic effect of water conservation measures on the performance of FM, while combining FM with organic matter (OM) amendments decreased its performance. Results highlighted major trends in cereal crop response to FM that could be used to prioritize target areas. However, these may require additional, site‐specific field experiments, especially for factors for which little data is currently available.

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The Response of Sorghum, Groundnut, Sesame, and Cowpea to Seed Priming and Fertilizer Micro-Dosing in South Kordofan State, Sudan

Abstract: This study was undertaken with the objective of evaluating micro-dosing of mineral fertilizer combined with seed priming in sorghum, groundnut, sesame, and cowpea. On-station and on-farm trials were conducted for two consecutive seasons

Cited by 16 publications

References 11 publications

On‐farm seed priming and fertilizer micro‐dosing: Agronomic and economic responses of maize in semi‐arid Ethiopia

On‐farm seed priming and fertilizer micro‐dosing: Agronomic and economic responses of maize in semi‐arid Ethiopia

Hydropriming of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) in Northern and Central Burkina Faso applying six hours of soaking and overnight drying of seeds

Factors driving cereal response to fertilizer microdosing in sub‐Saharan Africa: A meta‐analysis

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