Seedball technology overcomes effect of small seed-size and low soil fertility on early pearl millet seedling performance

Abstract

In the African Sahel region, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. Brown) is mostly produced in low-nutrient soils. Available evidence shows that low soil fertility and small seed size significantly reduce seedling establishment and in turn, cause low grain yield. Seedball technology, which refers to a gravimetric mixture of loam soil, seeds, water and additives that improve plant performance, could overcome this effect in the field. The objective of this study was to optimise the influence of seedball on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. Brown) seedling establishment in the African Sahel region. Conventionally sown and seedball-derived pearl millet seedlings, of a local and improved varieties, were grown for 29 days, from small and large seed sizes, in low- and medium-nutrient soils, in a greenhouse. Results showed that under low-nutrient conditions, and with small seed sizes, P. glaucum produced generally inferior biomas compared to normal nutrient conditions and large seed sizes. On the other hand, seedball technology significantly enhanced (P<0.05) seedling vigour, leaf number, plant height, dry matter accumulation, root length and fine root development; and nutrient uptake, irrespective of soil nutrient level and seed size in the two varieties used in this study. These enhancement effects were more obvious in the local variety compared to its improved counterpart.