Response of Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench) to Climate Data and Possible Adaptation Strategies for Improving Yields in Burkina Faso

Abstract

The objective of this study was to study the effect of some climatic parameters on sorghum production and to explore a wide range of possible sorghum crop management adaptation strategies that could enhance its production and contribute to food security. The study was conducted in the Central region of Burkina Faso in 2014. Three experiments were carried out under three climatic conditions: two dry experiments were conducted during the hot (March) and the cold (October) seasons respectively, while the rainfed experiment was conducted early in July. These experiments used a split-plot design. The two dry season experiments were subjected to two watering regimes (well-watered and water stress) and the entire experiments were subjected to two nitrogen levels (0 and 60 kg ha-1of urea) and two sorghum genotypes (local, Kapelga and improved, Sariaso 14). These factors were evaluated for genotypic performance on root growth, reproductive cycle, yield and yield components, and nitrogen and water use efficiencies. The result showed that the variations in the climatic parameters decreased the long term sorghum yield in Saria. It was also observed that the growth conditions mostly affected sorghum production followed by watering regimes, genotypes performance and nitrogen levels. The third growth condition (dry cold experiment) was found to be the most productive. Genotype Sariaso 14 was highly productive in irrigated experiments. It was also found that WUE and NUE were the two factors limiting sorghum production. This knowledge is expected to be of tremendous benefit to farmers as rainfed agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate change.