Broccoli in succession to pearl millet: nutrient cycling, production and soil chemical attributes

ABSTRACT For its production, broccoli requires large quantities of nutrients in relatively short periods. As a conservation technique, the no-tillage planting of broccoli over the pearl millet straw in succession may interfere with the dynamics of nutrient release, inflorescence production and the chemical attributes of the soil. The objectives of this work were to evaluate nutrient cycling, broccoli production and soil chemical attributes in a no-tillage system in succession to pearl millet for two consecutive years. The treatments consisted of pearl millet (BRS 1501) with the straw maintaned whole over the soil, pearl millet with the ground straw, spontaneous plants with biomass maintaned on the soil and conventional system with soil tillage without cover maintenance. It was found that ground pearl millet on the soil surface intensifies the nutrients release rate and provides a less use by broccoli grown in succession. The continuous conventional system reduces the absorption of nutrients and the production of inflorescence of broccoli grown in highly-fertile soil. Pearl millet is efficient in maintaining potassium levels in the soil over broccoli crops in succession. The maintenance of whole pearl millet straw on the soil surface is a promising technique for growing broccoli in succession.