INFLUENCE OF ROW WIDTHS AND SEEDING RATES ON PEARL-MILLET SILAGE AND GRAIN-YIELD

In the southern USA, pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., HGM (TM) 100] is grown for forage and grain. This study was conducted to c ompare different ro rv widths and seeding rates of pearl millet for si lage and grain production, The research was conducted in 1993 and 1994 on a Dothan sandy loam (fine, loamy siliceous, thermic Plinthic Kandi udults) located at the North Florida Research and Education Center, Qu incy, FL. Yield of fresh silage in 1993 was the highest at a row width of 13 cm (51 t ha(-1)) and the lowest at row width of 76 cm (40 t ha( -1)). There was no significant differences due to seeding rates in yie ld of fresh silage of pearl millet. Highest grain yields in 1993 were obtained at 13 cm row width and either 5 kg ha(-1) (6.0 ha(-1)) or 7 k g(-1) ha(-1) (5.9 ha(-1)) seeding rates, Number of heads ha(-1) was no t significantly different (P less than or equal to 0.05) between years (1993 and 1994), though it was lower at the 2 kg ha(-1) seeding rate, There were no significant differences (P less than or equal to 0.05) in plant height between 1993 and 1994, for any seeding rates or row wi dths. The lengths of grain heads in 1993 were shortest for the widest rows (76 cm) at the two highest seeding rates, and for the intermediat e row width (38 cm) at the highest seeding rate. In 1994 grain yield a nd fresh silage yields were generally lower than in 1993, due in part to excessive rainfall and with no significant differences (P less than or equal to 0.05) for all row widths and seeding rates.