Influence of dry season supplementation for cattle on soil fertility and millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) yield in a mixed crop/livestock production system of the Sahel

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in 1996 and 1997 in semi-arid Niger, to determine the influence of supplementation (no supplement, supplemented with millet bran + simple superphosphate + blood meal) of cattle and mulching (0 or 3 t ha−1 of Aristida sieberiana straw) on soil fertility and millet yield. Manure was applied through corralling at a rate of 3 t faecal dry matter (FDM) ha−1 alone or associated to mulching. The residual effects of the treatments were measured on a second millet crop in 1997. Compared to control, the association of mulching and corralling of supplemented as well as non supplemented cattle increased soil pH (KCl) (P < 0.01), Bray1-P (P < 0.05) and NH4-N (P < 0.05); grain by 136% (P < 0.01) stover yeild by moer than 150% (P < 0.05); and N and P uptake (P < 0.01) during the two cropping seasons. The association of mulching and corralling increased soil NH4-N (P < 0.01) and soil pH (P < 0.01), compared to the sole corralling. The improvement of soil chemical properties resulted in grain yield increases of 54% (P < 0.01) and stover increases of 42% (P < 0.01). The effect of mulching and corralling association on grain and stover yeilds was higher when cattle were supplemented (67 and 50%) than when they were not supplemented (30 and 26%). The effects of the supplementation on grain and stover yields, and N and P uptake by millet, were restricted, when animals were corralled on bare soil (no mulching). The residual effects of supplementation were minimal