Forage yield and chemical composition of pearl-millet (Pennisetum typhoides) as influenced by exchangeable sodium

Abstract

SummaryThe effect of exchangeable sodium percentages (ESP) of 86, 61, 43, 33 and 28 on forage yield and chemical composition of four cultivars of pearl-millet (LC-2, LC-5, LC-6 and LC-7) was studied under field conditions during 1981 and 1982. Dry and green forage yields were significantly higher at 28 ESP over other ESP values. Increasing ESP decreased the yield and concentration of Ca, K and P but increased that of Na in the plants. Cultivar LC-5 was found to give the best performance under sodic soil followed by LC-7, LC-6 and LC-2. At an early stage of crop growth (45 days), cv. LC-2 had significantly lower concentrations of Ca, K and P and a higher Na concentration compared with other cultivars.