Drought and poor soil phosphorus are partly responsible for the low yield of millet. The objective was to determine the impact of the phosphorus fertilization in a water deficit condition on the growth and development of pearl millet variety CIVAREX 06 05 S3. The trial was conducted in greenhouse using a split-plot design with three replications. Before the sowing, four levels of Burkina Faso naturel phosphate (P0 = 0 kg/ha, P1 = 2.5 g/pot ≈ 100 kg/ha, P2 = 4 g/pot ≈ 160 kg/hg and P3 = 6g/pot ≈ 240 kg/ha) were applied on the soil. The 21th days after sowing, three levels of water regimes (100%, 75% and 25% of field capacity) were applied to the millet plants until maturity. The results showed that irrigation at 25% of field capacity had a reducing effect on the chlorophyll content, grain phosphorus content, plant height, root volume, ear weight, ear length, grain weight and of plants treated with P0, P1, P2 and P3 doses of Burkina phosphate. Under moderate water deficit conditions 75% at field capacity, the phosphate amendment significantly improved chlorophyll content, plant height, root volume, ears weight, grains weight end total biomass. The same thing was observed with the control plants (100 % of field capacity). The interaction effect of water regime and phosphate amendment had a significant effect on plant height, root volume, spike weight, grain weight and total biomass. In sum, under conditions of moderate water deficit, Burkina phosphate improves the growth and development of millet.

Pearl millet, CIVAREX 06 05 S3, Burkina phosphate, Water regime