Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Irrigated Forage Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum L.K. Shcum)

摘要

An experiment was conducted at the demonstration farm, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and technology, Shambat during April to July 2008 and April to July 2009 to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on two local cultivars of pearl millet (Wad Ahana and Dembi) under irrigation conditions. The experiments were conducted by using a split plot arrangement, two cultivars as main plots and the five nitrogen levels as sub plots. The parameters measured were fresh weight (kg), dry weight (kg), plant height (cm), number of tillers/plant, stem diameter (cm), number of leaves/plant and forage fresh weight (t/ha). The statistical analysis was recorded to separate the means. The results revealed positive significant effects on fresh weight, dry weight, number of leaves/plant and forage yield which indicate the ability to grow millet successfully during April as a forage crop. The results recorded that additional nitrogen rate of 120 kg N/fed obtained significant effects in both seasons. The results showed that Dembi cultivar has a wide response to nitrogen fertilizer under irrigation conditions in both seasons. This study cleared that local cultivars of pearl millet could not obtain positive grain yield due to the effect of temperature and a long day light in April – July, but it was good for forage yield. Furthermore, local cultivars of millet need more genetic and selective experiments to create a new resistant type.