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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #188408
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: American Society of Agronomy Branch Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2005
Publication Date: 2/5/2006
Citation: Maas, A.L. Hanna, W.W. 2006. Cover Crop Affects Nitrogen Response of Pearl Millet Grain Production in a Strip-till System [abstract]. American Society of Agronomy Southern Branch. CD-ROM.

Interpretive Summary: not required

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 the 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, ryegrass, and wheat), two row spacing, (Two row 0.18 m apart in the center of a 0.9 m bed and 0.9 m), and three nitrogen levels (0 kg ha-1, 56 kg ha-1, and 112 kg ha-1), in 2001 and 2002. Plant response characters measured were yield, plant height, head weight, and head length. Nitrogen levels of 56 kg ha-1 and 112 kg ha-1 versus none were the only main effect to produced a significant (p=0.05) change in all characters measured. Cover crop affected nitrogen response for grain yield at p=0.05 within nitrogen treatment levels of 56 kg ha-1 and 112 kg ha-1. No significant interactions were found for all other characters. The effect of cover crop on nitrogen response in a strip-till system was significant in this study suggesting a key factor in nitrogen response in pearl millet.