Evaluation of five pearl millet varieties for yield and forage quality under two planting densities in the Sahel

Abstract

In the Sahel that is typified by an agro-pastoral system and a long dry season between rains, the availability of animal feed is a very serious constraint. The objectives of this study were to identify pearl millet varieties with high forage productivity under rainfed conditions in the Sahel; to identify best planting densities and to find physiological mechanisms conducive to high forage productivity in pearl millet. The experiment was carried out at the ICRISAT Sadore Research Center in Niger during the 2006 rainy season. Five long duration varieties (Malgorou, Batchoudine, Sanioba, Yabo Maiwa and Somno Damari) as forage crops were compared at two planting densities (10,000 and 20,000 hills/ha). Dry matter yield and forage quality was assessed at the boot, anthesis and at the soft dough stages. The higher planting density gave in this year higher dry matter (and grain) yield than the lower density. The dough stage was the most suitable stage for harvest because dry matter was at its highest. However, organic matter digestibility and crude protein are higher at the boot stage compared with the dough stage. The Malgorou variety gave the highest dry matter yield at the dough stage (8.57 tons/ha at the high planting density). The high forage productivity of this variety was attributed to the longer growing period of time before anthesis and the bigger number of tillers. The results of this study demonstrated that long duration varieties of pearl millet can become an important source of forage in the Sahel under rainfed conditions.

Divergence in agronomic traits and performance of pearl millet cultivars in Brazilian semiarid region

“…The DDMY average of 5.5 Mg ha −1 obtained in this study was higher than recorded yields of rainfed forage millet with multiple cuttings (Pasternak et al . ) and similar to forage yields obtained under high fertilization regimes (Reddy et al . ).…”

“…The highest DDMY observed for the 'CMS-03' could be attributed to the higher DMY since this cultivar was similar to the cultivars 'IPA Bulk1BF' and 'ADR 300' for panicle percentage. The DDMY average of 5.5 Mg ha À1 obtained in this study was higher than recorded yields of rainfed forage millet with multiple cuttings (Pasternak et al 2012) and similar to forage yields obtained under high fertilization regimes (Reddy et al 2003).…”

Farmers' perceptions of fodder performances of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br) accessions in Niger

“…Nevertheless, Pasternak et al. (2012) felt that important characteristics expected from a fodder pearl millet variety include: (i) shorter production cycle: (ii) longer production cycle (iii) capacity to regenerate after mowing.…”

“…Indeed, during their study, Pasternak et al. (2012) evaluated the dry matter yield and quality of fodder at the boot, anthesis and at the soft dough stages.…”

“…So, the dough stage was therefore the most suitable for harvesting, as the dry matter was at its maximum ( Pasternak et al., 2012 ). However, the digestibility of organic matter and crude protein is higher at the boot stage than at the dough stage ( Pasternak et al., 2012 ). The Malgorou variety gave the highest dry matter yield at the pasty stage.…”