Crop management: nutrients, weeds, and rain
1996
Clegg, M.D.
Data derived from experiments with sorghum and pearl millet in the USA, relative to the amounts of several nutrients that are taken up by different crops, show the effect of added nitrogen and the removal of weeds on yield and water-use efficiency (WUE). For a sorghum yield of 2 t/ha the crop's annual requirements in t/ha are 60 N, 20 P, and 60 K. Rotation with soybean increased the yield of sorghum and pearl millet, and additional nitrogen benefits yields. But the cultivation practices of removing competitive weeds and increasing WUE are shown to increase the yields of both crops, whether they are grown continuously or in rotation with soybean. WUE gains of between 2.9 and 7.5 kg/ha/mm are reported, and complete weed control was found to increase WUE on average by 10 kg/ha/mm. Through the more efficient use of rain, a single application of nonrenewable nutrients and effective weed control can double or triple crop yields
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