Improving weed management in the draft animal‐based production of early pearl millet in The Gambia

Production of the early varieties of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum.) is increasing because of their earliness and drought tolerance in the face of a shortening and decreasing rainy season. Weeds were considered as a major constraint on improving yields. To improve weed management in millet, the major weeds have been identified in on‐farm surveys as a pre‐requisite to identifying appropriate weed control recommendations. Grain yield losses incurred by farmers’ weeding practices were found to range from 27 to 36%. Early control of weeds within‐the‐rows, either by handhoeing or by band application of low rates of atrazine or propazine, increased yields by more than 50% in 1985 and by more than 30% in 1986 over farmers’ practice. The band herbicide treatment was, however, more cost‐effective and easier‐to‐accomplish than handweeding of weeds within‐the‐rows.