Protein, Calcium, Zinc, and Iron Contents of Finger Millet Grain Response to Varietal Differences and Phosphorus Application in Kenya
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Date
2018
Authors
Wafula, Wekha N
Korir, Nicholas K
Ojulong, Henry F
Siambi, Moses
Gweyi-Onyango, Joseph P
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the influence of phosphorus fertilizers on the
concentrations of nutrients, particularly calcium, protein, zinc, and iron in finger millet grains
grown in different agro-ecologies in Kenya. The on-station experiments were carried out at Kiboko
(Eastern Kenya), Kakamega, and Alupe (Western Kenya) in 2015 during the short and long rainy
seasons. The trials were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a 4 × 3 factorial
arrangement with three replicates. The treatments comprised of four levels of phosphorus (0, 12.5, 25.0
and 37.5 kg ha−1 P2O5) and three finger millet varieties (U-15, P-224 and a local variety). Application
of phosphorus significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the protein content of finger millet grain in varieties
in all the three sites. Variety U-15 had the highest protein content (11.0%) at 25 kg ha−1 P2O5 with the
control (zero P) on variety P-224 eliciting the lowest (4.4%) at Kiboko. At Kakamega, the 25 kg ha−1
P2O5 treatment with U-15 variety had the highest protein content (15.3%) while the same variety at
12.5 kg ha−1 P2O5 rate elicited the highest protein content (15.0%) at Alupe. Phosphorus application
significantly enhanced the nutritional quality of finger millet grains specifically protein, calcium,
iron, and zinc. Variety P-224 had the highest calcium content in all sites and highest iron content at
Kakamega while the local varieties had the highest zinc content in all sites. The varieties responded
differently to each quality component but generally, based on the protein content, the 25 kg ha−1
P2O5 is recommended.
Description
Article
Keywords
finger millet, phosphorus, nutrients, protein, polynomial, nutritional quality
Citation
Wafula, W. N., Korir, N. K., Ojulong, H. F., Siambi, M., & Gweyi-Onyango, J. P. (2018). Protein, calcium, zinc, and iron contents of finger millet grain response to varietal differences and phosphorus application in Kenya. Agronomy, 8(2), 24.