@article{fdi:010080391,
  title = {{A}mmonium fertilization increases pearl millet yield by promoting early root growth, higher tillering, and water use during grain filling in a low {P} {S}ahelian soil},
  author = {{B}eggi, {F}. and {V}adez, {V}incent and {B}uerkert, {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {A}daptation of pearl millet [{P}ennisetum glaucum ({L}.) {R}. {B}r.] to low soil phosphorus ({P}) at early seedling stages and efficient {P} fertilizer application are crucial for its survival in the {W}est {A}frican {S}ahel. {W}hile addition of {NH}4 + - {N} to {P} in the microdose technique has been reported to stimulate early growth of pearl millet, there is little information regarding root length ({RL}) at different timings. {A}ims: {O}ur study aimed at assessing the effects of added {NH}4 + - {N} and {NO}3 - - {N} to {P} on (1) pearl millet agronomic traits such as root and shoot growth and (2) the water use dynamics during the cropping cycle. {M}ethods: {T}wenty-four "{R}hizo{T}ubes" filled with {P}-deficient soil were used to grow pearl millet under three treatments: ({T}1) placed {P} addition alone at 0.4 g per seed hole, {P}-placed, ({T}2) {P}-placed + {NH}4 + - {N}, and ({T}3) {P}-placed + {NO}3 - - {N}. {A}t 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after sowing ({WAS}) we took non-destructive measurements of {RL}. {W}ater use (transpiration) was measured from 3.5 to 9 {WAS}. {R}esults: {A}t early growth, roots in the topsoil of {T}2 were longer than {T}3 and {T}1 roots (at 4 {WAS}: 129.3 cm for {T}2, 87.5 cm for {T}3, and 93.3 cm for {T}1, p < 0.05). {T}otal {RL} at 2 {WAS} correlated positively with seedling height and final grain yield. {F}ertilization with {NH}4 + - {N} reduced the time to flowering and increased the number of tillers and grain yield, whereas addition of {NO}3 - - {N} increased vegetative dry matter at harvest and water use efficiency. {C}onclusions: {O}ur findings suggest that fertilization with {NH}4 + - {N} plays a critical root stimulating role at early growth stages, seemingly by increasing lateral root initiation, which carries through to a larger water use during grain filling and higher grain yield.},
  keywords = {ammonium versus nitrate fertilization ; pearl millet ; root length ; {R}hizo{T}ubes ; {W}est {A}frica ; {AFRIQUE} {DE} l'{OUEST} ; {ZONE} {SAHELIENNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {P}lant {N}utrition and {S}oil {S}cience},
  volume = {184},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {123--131},
  ISSN = {1436-8730},
  year = {2021},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010080391},
}