Evaluation of the Forage Potentials of Pearl Millet in a Semi‐arid Tropical Environment

Abstract

The pastures and rangelands of the semi‐arid region of Nigeria wherein is the bulk of the livestock in the country, provide sufficient nutrients for livestock for no more than three to five months of the year. There is therefore need to have high yielding and good quality forages to ensure adequate all‐year‐round forage supply for the livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the forage potentials of pearl millet (Pennistetum americanum [L.] K. Schum.) which is well adapted to the region. Twenty cultivars were evaluated for their growth, forage yield and mineral content potentials. The cultivars were significantly different in the number of leaves per plant, plant height, dry matter yield and potassium content in each cutting. Differences in crude protein and crude fibre contents were significant only between cuttings. Variations in crude protein and crude fibre contents ranged from 14.1 to 20.3 % and from 28 to 30.8 %, respectively. Cultivars had a progressive dimunition in growth, yield and mineral content potentials after the first or second cutting. Pearl millet therefore seems less suited to forage production in the semi‐arid region of Nigeria since no cultivar showed the potentials for adequate supply of all‐year‐round forage.

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

“…A dry matter yield of 8.57 tons/ha obtained by the Malgorou variety at the dough stage was higher than recorded yields of rain fed forage millet with multiple cuttings (Craufurd and Bidinger 1989) and similar to forage yields obtained under high fertilization regimes (Reddy et al, 2003). It is comparable to dry matter yield from four cuttings in a higher rainfall area in north Nigeria (Makeri and Ugherughe (1992). Analysis of variance showed that planting densities had significantly affected dry matter yield (P<0.05).…”

“…For this reason very little research has been conducted on millet forage production in the Sudano Sahel under rainfed conditions. Makeri and Ugherughe (1992) is an exemption. These workers compared the productivity and some quality parameters of 20 pearl millet varieties in northern Nigeria.…”

Nutritional composition of a full diallel-crossed forage pearl millet of Nigeria origin

“…) and Ca (1.230 to 2.180 g kg -1 ) contents in the present study were much higher than the dietary Mg and Ca requirements of beef and dairy cattle which are between 0.4 and 1.8 g kg -1 (Makeri and Ugherughe, 1992). Also, the variability among inbred lines and their hybrids followed similar trends as P and Ca, with CV value of 8.07%.…”

Produção e qualidade do milheto semeado em duas épocas e adubado com nitrogênio

“…Comportamento inverso foi obtido na PMSC, que foi de 242 kg ha -1 no primeiro corte, e 922 kg ha -1 , no quarto corte. Makeri & Ugherughe (1992) atribuíram o decréscimo gradual na produção de folhas em cultivares de milheto ao avanço na maturidade das plantas.…”