Evaluation of dryland crop management innovations for subsistence farmers of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum.) in Niger

Abstract Field experiments were conducted at several locations in Niger between February 1985 and September 1987. Three experiments were designed to evaluate if removal of tillers in conjunction with other crop management practices would improve the growth, productivity, and water use efficiency of pearl millet. A fourth was designed to evaluate if intercropping of long-, medium-, and short-season cultivars of pearl millet would result in better crop yields. The combined results for the first three experiments showed that tiller removal did not have a beneficial effect on growth and productivity of pearl millet. About 25 per cent of the tillers could be safely removed at growth stage 4 (as defined by Maiti and Bidinger, 1981) without affecting yields, especially for the locally grown cultivars. The results of the fourth experiment showed that 50: 50 combinations of either of the two improved shorter season cultivars, HKP and CWT, with the local long-season cultivars gave lower yields than the improved cultivars grown in pure stands. However, yields from these 50: 50 combinations were higher than those of the local cultivar grown alone. A 1:1: 1 combination of all three cultivars in lines or in the same hill yielded the same as the improved cultivars grown singly but gave markedly greater yields (p