Abstract

The research was conducted at the Usmanu Danfidiyo University, Teaching and Research farm (dry land) Sokoto (130 01N and 50 15E) during 2015 rainy season, to investigate soil chemical properties and performance of millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) as affected by cow dung application time. The experiment consisted of four Treatments (application time interva = February (T1), March (T2), April (T3) and May (T4), the experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three 3 times. The soil chemical properties considered include; pH, OC, total N, Avai. P, CEC, exchangeable K, Na, Ca, and Mg. For plant, both the growth and yield parameters were considered to assess the millet performance. The result obtained have indicated no significant effect (P< 0.05) on most of the soil chemical properties considered but recorded an increased on the chemical properties of the soil due to cow dung application as compared to the initial values. Similarly, treatments effect was only significant (P> 0.05) on tiller count, plant height, where application at (T1=53.3 recorded the largest number of tillers and the lowest value was due to application at T4=47.7). From the result it can be deduced that cow dung can be applied at any of the considered times (application period considered) in the study area.

Key words: Cow dung, application, time and millet