Abstract
The potential of dry (DM) and green (GM) matter yield, plant nitrogen concentration (NC), apparent nitrogen conversion efficiency (NCE) and apparent N recovery (ANR) of pearl millet cultivars with nitrogen fertilization are analyzed. Current experiment was conducted in the municipality of Ceres GO Brazil, within the Cerrado (Brazilian savannah) biome. A 3x4x2 randomized factorial block design was employed, with three repetitions. Treatments were composed of three pearl millet cultivars (ADR-7010, ADR-500 and BRS-1501), four N doses (0, 50, 100 and 200 kgha -1 ) and two sowing times (December and February). Plants from each seeding were harvested twice at a height of 0.70 m. There was a significant effect on the interaction between cultivars and N doses. GM yield of ADR-7010 cultivar increased up to 140 kg.ha -1 of N. There was a quadratic effect of N doses on DM yield, with maximum production at 158 kg ha -1 N. The quantity of N extracted by the plants varied according to the cultivar, with BRS-1501 accumulating the highest N quantities in the shoots. Maximum NC of pearl millet shoots would be achieved with 147 kg N ha -1 . The highest NCE occurred with N doses of 50 kg ha -1 , with a DM yield of 11.60 kg per kg of applied N. ANR was also highest for N doses of 50 kg ha -1 , with a 53% maximum recovery.
Highlights
Cattle-breeding in Brazil is mainly based on pasture as opposed to grain-feeding, for lower costs
Results obtained by Pires et al (2007) demonstrate that the dry matter yield (DM) of three pearl millet cultivars increased as the plants attained full flowering and reached 19.29 t ha-1 of DM
We aimed to evaluate green and dry matter forage yield as well as the efficiency of apparent nitrogen conversion (NCE), apparent N recovery (ANR) and N concentration (NC) of three pearl millet cultivars with four N doses at two sowing times, on the Brazilian savannah Biome
Summary
Cattle-breeding in Brazil is mainly based on pasture as opposed to grain-feeding, for lower costs. Animal productivity indexes in the savannah biome are low owing to the degradation of many areas and to the low technological level of herd management, with high liabilities in potential earnings. Brown), an annual plant with high nutrition rates, may be used for grain production, mulching and forage for grazing and production of silage. Due to its physiological characteristics, pearl millet is highly resistant to water stress and adapts well to acidic and low-fertility soils which are limiting factors for corn (Pires et al, 2007). Results obtained by Pires et al (2007) demonstrate that the dry matter yield (DM) of three pearl millet cultivars increased as the plants attained full flowering and reached 19.29 t ha-1 of DM
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