Hybrid and Nitrogen Influence on Pearl Millet Production in Nebraska: Yield, Growth, and Nitrogen Uptake, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency (original) (raw)

nutrient-poor soil and low rainfall conditions, yet it is capable of rapid and vigorous growth under favorable Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a staple grain conditions (Maiti and Bidinger, 1981). Pearl millet is a crop in the arid and semiarid regions of Africa and India, and a new potential alternative grain crop for areas of the Great grain crop in the USA. A 2-year field experiment was conducted near Mead, NE, in 1995 and 1996 on a Sharpsburg silty clay loam (fine, Plains with sandy soil, low rainfall, and a short growing smectitic, mesic Typic Argiudoll) soil with approximately 29 g kg Ϫ1 season since dwarf hybrids with good yield potential organic matter, 35 kg ha Ϫ1 NO 3-N, and pH of 6.0. The objective was have been developed. A better understanding of pearl to determine the influence of hybrid and N on grain yield, dry matter millet growth and its N concentration and accumulation accumulation and partitioning, and growth rates throughout the growis necessary to improve pearl millet grain yield and ing season. Nitrogen concentrations, uptake, and use efficiency were promote its adoption by farmers in the Great Plains. also determined. Treatments were a factorial combination of the pearl Growth rate is a physiological trait associated with millet dwarf hybrids (59022A ϫ 89-0083, 1011A ϫ 086R, and 1361M ϫ increased grain yield in cereal crops. Growth is generally 6Rm) and N levels (0 and 78 kg ha Ϫ1) in a randomized complete a function of environmental factors (such as temperablock design. Two plants per plot were sampled at 2-wk intervals ture and solar radiation) and mineral nutrition, along and partitioned into plant parts, dried, weighed, and analyzed for N concentration. Applied N increased grain yield by 0.4 to 0.5 Mg ha Ϫ1 , with genotype and production practices. General asbut had only a small effect on dry matter accumulation and partipects of growth and development of pearl millet plants tioning. Hybrid differences were small for grain yield. Pearl millet dry were reported by Maiti and Bidinger (1981) and Bramelmatter accumulation increased cubically in both years, with maximum Cox et al. (1984). Dry matter accumulation by pearl crop growth rates among hybrids ranging from 0.48 to 0.57 g m Ϫ2 per millet under different management conditions have growing degree day (GDD) in 1995 and ranging from 1.9 to 3.1 g m Ϫ2 been reported in Africa (Azam-Ali et al., 1984), Austra-GDD Ϫ1 maximum in 1996. The relative growth rate among hybrids lia (Coaldrake and Pearson, 1985), and India (Craufurd declined from 0.012 to 0.020 g Ϫ1 m Ϫ2 GDD Ϫ1 in both years to near and Bidinger, 1989; Carberry et al., 1985). zero at physiological maturity. Nitrogen concentrations were higher Mineral nutrition is one of the most important factors during the vegetative stages and decreased with plant age. Applied affecting plant productivity (Clark, 1990), and N is the N decreased N use efficiency for aboveground biomass (NUE 1) by 18 to 25 g DM g Ϫ1 N, and N use efficiency for grain (NUE 2) by 7 to major nutrient required by pearl millet. Pearl millet is 12 g grain g Ϫ1 N. Environmental variability due to years had a greater usually managed with low fertilizer input, and has shown effect on yield, growth, and N levels than hybrid and applied N. variable growth and yield response to N application (Gascho et al., 1995). Coaldrake and Pearson (1985) reported that growth of pearl millet was reduced by low P earl millet is commonly grown in the arid and N supply, and maximum growth rate before panicle semiarid regions of Africa and India as a staple initiation was achieved at a whole-plant N concentration food for millions of people. It is particularly adapted to of 15.6 g kg Ϫ1 during vegetative growth and 13 g kg Ϫ1 after panicle initiation. Alagarswamy and Bidinger (1987) found that increased N application decreased N Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915. Paper use efficiency. Gregory (1979) found that N concentrano. 12259 of the Journal Series of the Nebraska Agric. Res. Div. tion in pearl millet stems and leaves increased with water Contribution of the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln Dep. of Agronomy.