Data from: Pearl millet and cowpea intercrop response to applied nutrients in West Africa

In the Sahel, crop production is dominated by pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] cropping systems including intercropping with cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]. The research objectives were to determine pearl millet sole crop (PMSC) and intercrop nutrient response functions, profit opportunities from fertilizer use, and a means of relating intercrop to PMSC response. Pearl millet–cowpea trials were conducted in Niger and Mali. The treatment structure was an incomplete factorial with five, four, and four levels of P, N, and K, respectively. Response functions were determined for intercropping with cowpea yield converted to a pearl millet grain yield equivalent for ratios of cowpea to pearl millet grain value (CpPm) ranging from 1 to 5 kg kg–1. Response functions were also determined in consideration of fodder value. A method of adjusting PMSC response coefficients with CpPm as the independent variable was developed for determination of intercrop response functions. Yields and responses to nutrients were low but adequate for profitable N and P use. Value of intercrop production ranged from 50 to 125% more compared with PMSC for CpPm of 2 and 4, and the respective response to 10 kg ha–1 P was 28 and 135% more with intercrop. Consideration of fodder added 23% to the yield value. Application of N and P for intercrop compared with PMSC production has much more profit potential. The ability to apply PMSC functions in determination of pearl millet–cowpea responses to applied nutrients offers a means to improve fertilizer use for the intercrop

West Africa Pearl Millet data set

Research was conducted in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger for the Sahel and Sudan Savanna agroecological zones. Trials had similar basic treatment structures for determination of response functions for N, P, and K, and a diagnostic treatment for resposne to Mg, S, Zn and B. Most treatments in Niger were intercroped with cowpea and with 2.5 Mg ha-1 yr-1 manure applied but had additional treatments for determination of the effect of manure and/or intercropping on yield and response. Most treatments in Mali were sole crop pearl millet with added treatments determination of the effect of intercropping on yield and response, all with no manure applied. In Burkina Faso, trials were conducted at Dori in 2014-2015 and all treatments were with pearl millet sole crop with or without 5 Mg ha-1 manure applied in 2014 and evaluating the residual effect of manure in 2015