Resumo: Objetivou-se avaliar cultivares de milheto em função de níveis de lâminas de irrigação, cultivado em solo degradado coletado em Irauçuba-CE. O trabalho foi conduzido em pleno sol, em vasos com 12,5 dm3 de solo, que apresentava baixa fertilidade. As cultivares utilizadas foram ADR500, BRS1501, BRS1502, BRS1503 e IPABulk-1, com quatro níveis de irrigação: 100, 80, 60 e 40% em função da evapotranspiração da cultura (ETc), que foi mensurado por tanque classe ´A´. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial, com três repetições. Até o 34° dia após a germinação das plantas, a quantidade de água aplicada foi equivalente a 100% da ETc, e depois iniciou-se a implementação dos vários níveis de irrigação, as plantas foram avaliadas 14 dias após a aplicação das lâminas, cujas variáveis mensuradas foram massa de matéria seca, teor de clorofila e eficiência no uso da água, ainda procedeu-se o cálculo do coeficiente de sensibilidade ao déficit hídrico (KY). As variáveis massa seca de raiz, caule e total, e eficiência no uso da água apresentaram decréscimos com a diminuição da quantidade de água aplicada. Os valores de KY foram inferiores a um (1,0) para as cultivares ADR500, BRS1501, BRS1503 e IPABulk1 para lâmina de 80% da evapotranspiração da cultura. As cultivares BRS1503 e IPA-Bulk1 apresentaram maiores valores para massa seca total e eficiência no uso da água. [Production, chlorophyll and water use efficiency in millet grown in area with soil degraded]. Abstract: The objective was to study millet cultivars due to irrigation levels, in degraded soil of Irauçuba, State of Ceará. The study was conducted in full sun, in pots with soil 12.5 dm3, which had low fertility. The cultivars used ADR500, BRS1501, BRS1502, BRS1503 and IPABulk-1, with four irrigation levels: 100, 80, 60 and 40% depending on the crop evapotranspiration (ETc), which was measured by a tank class 'A '. Therefore, the design was completely randomized in a factorial design with three replications. Until the 34th day after germination of plants the amount of water applied was equivalent to 100% of ETc, and after work began on the implementation of the various levels of irrigation, the plants were conducted for over 14 days, whose mass variables dry matter, content of chlorophyll and efficiency in water use were measured, still proceeded to calculate the sensitivity coefficients to water deficit (KY). The mass variables of dry root, stem and total efficiency of water use showed decreases with decreasing amount of water applied. The KY values were less than 1 for cultivars ADR500, BRS1501, BRS1503 and IPABulk1 to slide 80% of the crop evapotranspiration. The BRS1503 and IPA-Bulk1 cultivars showed higher values for total dry matter and efficiency in water use.

Rapid population growth in sub-Saharan West Africa and related cropland expansion were shown in some places to have increased focused recharge through ponds, raising the water table. To estimate changes in diffuse recharge, the water content and matric potential were monitored during 2009 and 2010, and modeling was performed using the Hydrus-1D code for two field sites in southwest Niger: (1) fallow land and (2) rainfed millet cropland. Monitoring results of the upper 10 m showed increased water content and matric potential to greater depth under rainfed cropland (>2.5 m) than under fallow land (≤1.0 m). Model simulations indicate that conversion from fallow land to rainfed cropland (1) increases vadose-zone water storage and (2) should increase drainage flux (∼25 mm year⁻¹) at 10-m depth after a 30–60 year lag. Therefore, observed regional increases in groundwater storage may increasingly result from diffuse recharge, which could compensate, at least in part, groundwater withdrawal due to observed expansion in irrigated surfaces; and hence, contribute to mitigate food crises in the Sahel.