Nutrition and production studies on Cenchrus ciliaris L. cv. Molopo

Abstract

The apparent optimum levels of macronutrients in parts per million is determined for Cenchrus ciliaris cv, Molopo in sand culture, are: nitrogen-140, phosphorus-31, potassium-130, sulphur-6, calcium-20 and magnesium-5. The cultivar is most sensitive to deficiencies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur. High calcium (600 ppm) and sodium concentrations (500 ppm in the case of emergent seedlings and 1 000 ppm after the 4-leaf stage) resulted in lowered production (in the case of calcium and sodium) and high seedling mortality (in the case of sodium). Nitrogen, phosphorus and possibly sulphur, were the limiting elements to higher production in a soil of the Bontberg series (Hutton form). In the Vivo-Dendron area, dry matter production was significantly increased by nitrogen, but not by phosphorus, Cultivation between the rows significantly increased dry matter yields from the second growing season under dryland conditions, but not under irrigation.

Keywords: phosphorus|macronutrients|cultivation|seedlings|plants|cultivars|sodium|calcium|potassium|nitrogen|sands|optimum levels|Molopo Nature Reserve|production|nutrition|sulphur