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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193093
Title: COVER CROP AFFECTS NITROGEN RESPONSE OF PEARL MILLET GRAIN PRODUCTION IN A STRIP-TILL SYSTEM

Author
item Maas, Andrea
item HANNA, WAYNE - UNIV OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: International Sorghum and Millets Newsletter
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/18/2006
Publication Date: 11/1/2006
Citation: Maas, A.L., Hanna, W.W. 2006. Cover crop affects nitrogen response of pearl millet grain production in a strip-till system. International Sorghum and Millets Newsletter vol. 47, p. 123-124.

Interpretive Summary: New high yielding dwarf grain pearl millet hybrids have generated interest in millet as a substitute for corn and sorghum because of its ability to reliably produce grain on sandy, acidic, low fertility soils of the southeastern US. The goal of this study was to determine plant response to cover crop, row spacing, and nitrogen in a strip-till system for grain production. The results of this work demonstrated cover crop can influence yield in a strip-till system and the response of pearl millet to different levels of nitrogen.

Technical Abstract: Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a drought-tolerant cereal grain typically grown as a forage crop in the United States. New high yielding dwarf grain pearl millet hybrids have generated interest in millet as a substitute for corn and sorghum because of its ability to reliably produce grain on sandy, acidic, low fertility soils of the southeastern US. The objectives of this study were to determine plant response to cover crop, row spacing, and nitrogen in a strip-till system for grain production. Tifgrain 102 was evaluated in field plots planted after 3 cover crops [rye (Secale cereale L.), ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)], two row spacing, (two rows 0.18 m apart in the center of a 0.9 m bed and 0.9 m), and two nitrogen levels (56 kg ha-1, and 112 kg ha-1 in 2001, and 0 kg ha-1, 56 kg ha-1, in 2002. A significant increase in yield was observed for rye as a cover crop within 2001 and 2002 over ryegrass at p'0.05 and p'0.01 in 2001 and 2002 respectively, and wheat at p'0.01 both years. Nitrogen as a main affect was significantly different for yield between 0 kg ha-1 and 56 kg ha-1 in 2002, but not 56 kg ha-1 and 112 kg ha-1 in 2001. The effect of cover crop on nitrogen response in a strip-till system was significant in this study and a key factor in the response of pearl millet to nitrogen was suggested by the data.