The impact of organic and conventional farming on physicochemical composition and bioaccumulation of heavy metals on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) seeds grown in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The impact of organic and conventional farming practices at four planting fields was carried out to determine the effect on physicochemical properties and heavy metal accumulation on pearl millet. This study was carried out in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State Nigeria, between the month of June and September, 2024 (15 weeks). Sasakawa planting method was applied in planting the millet seeds and application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Conventional farming system produces less leaf size in terms of, width (1.3 to 2.25 cm), length (25.00 to 39.60 cm), stalk length (49.00 to 77.00 cm) and seed weight (10.50 to 12.22 g) compared to those of organic farming system. The result of proximate analysis shows that there was significant variation on the ash, protein and carbohydrate content of conventional farming seeds (p ≤ 0.05). Heavy metals analysis in pearl millet seeds indicate that the use of synthetic fertilizer did not lead to seed contamination with heavy metals, phosphorus, nitrogen and iron containing compounds. The outcome of this study shows that the type of farming system did not significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affects the quality and safety of the agricultural soil and plant seeds during practices. Farmers can leverage on this data to improve on conventional and organic system for better production of pearl millet to improve food security.