Potassium and Manganese Fertilization and the Effects on Millet Seed Yield, Seed Quality, and Forage Potential of Residual Stalks
Millets are an important grain and pasture
crop. Millet seeds have less anti-nutrient factors and are better choices for
feed formulation in small ruminant, poultry, hog, and swine operations.
Domesticated millet seed can be used as feed/or feed supplements in swine and
poultry production, and has also been fed directly to wild and pet birds by
bird enthusiasts. Pearl millets is one such millet that has high protein and
essential amino acid content and is used as feed in poultry and hog operations.
However, the changes in global climate affect the nutritive quality of crops
and therefore directly affecting human and animal food/feed.
Mineral element fertilizer application improves both the quantity
and quality of harvestable plant parts like forage and seeds. However, there is
limited information on micronutrient elements requirements and their effects on
seed and stalk forage quality. In this study, two
millets: Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br. (Pearl millet var.
TifGrain 102) and Panicum ramosum L. (Browntop millet) were
evaluated for their response to potassium (K) and manganese (Mn) fertilizer. The
experiment was a randomized complete block with treatments in a split-split
arrangement. Potassium and Mn were supplied as K fertilizer (0-0-60) and
manganese sulfate (MnSO4·2H2O), respectively.
Potassium and Mn
fertilizer rates and their interaction with each other and variety had no
effect on determined parameters. TifGrain 102 grain yield averaged at 5900
kg·ha-1 was significantly greater than 4680 kg·ha-1 obtained
for Browntop millet. While grain oil contents were similar, Browntop grain had
greater contents of crude proteins. And except for K, Browntop seed had greater
contents of all determined macro-and micronutrients. Residual stalks of
Browntop had greater forage crude protein, total digestible nutrient (TDN) and
lower acid detergent fiber (ADF). Browntop residual material had greater
quantities of estimated net energy for growth (NEG), lactation (NEL),
maintenance (NME). While TifGrain 102 residual stalks had greater contents of P
and K, it had significantly lower contents of Ca, Mg and S compared to
Browntop.
Overall, while
these two millets have shown good potential for dual use, Browntop may offer a
better choice for high quality seed and residual stalks for forage.
Article by Maru
Kipleting Kering and Cyril Broderick, from USA.
Full access: http://mrw.so/59pGNn
Image by Fluffymuppet, from Flickr-cc.
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