Variety and management selection to optimize pearl millet yield and profit in Senegal

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br.) water-limited yield gap in Senegal is estimated at 2.2 Mg ha-1. Proper variety and management selection are critical to the sustainable intensification of millet systems. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of two pearl millet varieties and different crop management (plant density nutrient rates) treatments on i) biomass yield, ii) grain yield, and iii) farm profit magnitude and responsiveness. The study was conducted on three sites during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 growing seasons with a total of nine site-years. Two varieties, Souna 3 (traditional) and Thialack 2 (dual-purpose), and 48 management treatments including two plant densities (37-74 x 1000 plants ha-1) and 24 different levels of nutrient combinations ranging from 0 to 149 kg ha-1 nitrogen (N, as urea), 0-67 kg ha-1 phosphorus (P2O5, as double super phosphate), 0-33 kg ha-1 potassium (K2O, as potassium chloride) and 0-14 987 kg ha-1 cow manure (M), were tested in all site-years. Thialack 2 presented greater biomass yield in three and grain yield in four site-years (out of nine site-years) relative to Souna 3. Management treatments with greatest magnitude and responsiveness produced on average 4.6 Mg ha-1 biomass yield with averaged nutrient rates of 102-37-26 NPK, 2 Mg ha-1 grain yield with averaged nutrient rates of 91-32-24 NPK, 682 USD ha-1 profit at low biomass and grain prices with averaged nutrient rates of 72-22-21 NPK, and 1183 USD ha-1 profit at high biomass and grain prices with averaged nutrient rates of 83-29-22 NPK, all at 74 thousand plants ha-1, regardless of variety used. Five to seven management practices were able to concurrently optimized biomass yield, grain yield, and farmer profit. Sustainably intensifying pearl millet systems by using improved variety and management practices have great potential to promote greater yields and farm profitability in Senegal.