Assessment of Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Recommendations for Perl Millet (Pennisetum Glaucum) Production in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

The deteriorating soil fertility and land deprivation have particularly affected the farms that peasant farmers depend on and therefore, threaten their food security. The research aimed at assessing the fertility status; evaluate the nutrient supply and fertilizer recommendation for millet production. Millet farm was purposively selected within which 1 square kilometre was delineated and 100 grids were formed, therefore 10 grids were systematically selected for soil sampling. The soil samples were collected in each grid using composite sampling techniques and then taken to laboratory for the analyses of some soil fertility parameters. The results were analysed using descriptive statistic and, Quantitative Evaluation of Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS Models) was used to determine the supply of N, P and K. The results shows that the mean values of pH (6.01 ±0.55), EC (0.02 ±0.01), N (0.15 ±0.03), P (13.63 ±0.62) and K (0.19 ±0.09) in the area and they were all ranked as moderate level. The amount of N, P and K supply to the crop by soil are 7.6%, 42.25 ppm and 6.8 cmol/kg for N, P and K respectively. Based on the nutrient status, Urea (65kg) or 20:10:10, SSP (167kg) or TSP (67kg) and Mop (50kg) were recommended for pearl millet production; therefore, the cost of the input (fertiliser application) will reduce and increase in productivity.