Seed priming and Zaï pit practice improve field performance of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in the Sahelian zone of Mali

Poor seed germination caused by a variety of seed, soil and environmental factors lead to suboptimal seedling stand and ultimately yield suffers a serious setback. A number of priming techniques have been found to be effective in increasing germination and seedling growth and development. This includes techniques such as on-farm hydro-priming (seed soaking in well water) and osmo-priming (seed soaking in low osmotic solutions of Potassium silicate). Also, Zaï practice, a cropping system concentrating runoff water and manure in pits, may be a simple solution in addition to seed priming techniques for crop establishment under early drought and heat prone areas and for increased productivity of poor soils. This study aims to evaluate the combined effect of priming and cultural practices (ridge and zaï pits) on three sorghum varieties in the Sahelian zone of Mali. Data were collected during two growing seasons in 2014 and 2015. Monitored parameters were assessed by comparing the impact of p...