Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer in Irrigated Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum L.K- Schum) Forage Yield

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the demonstration farm of the faculty of agricultural studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, during April July 2008 and April July 2009 to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on local types of pearl millet .Wad Ashana and Dembi) under irrigation condition) Nitrogen (Urea 46%N) divided into five levels 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 KgN/ha. was used as a main factor. The treatment were arranged in .Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications The parameters measured were plant fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant, stem diameter, pot height, pot diameter and forage fresh weight. The .statistical analysis was recorded to separate the means The results revealed positive significant effects on fresh weight, dry weight, number of leaves, pot height 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 kgN/fed .obtained significant effect in both seasons The results showed that the Dembi cultivar had a wide response to .nitrogen fertilizer under irrigation condition in both seasons This study cleared that local types 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 a good for forage yield Furthermore, local types of millet cultivars needs more genetic and .selective experiment to create a new resistance types