Phenology, dry weight and grain production in pearl millet cultivars

The objective of this study was to evaluate the cycle and biomass of two Brazilian cultivars of pearl millet, BN 2 and BRS 1501, compared to three African cultivars, Souna III, Guerguera and HKP. Two Field experiments without fertilization or irrigation were carried in January, with the cultivar BN 2, and in April with BRS 1501. In the January trial, the cycle of the cultivars BN 2 and HKP was shorter than the others, because the vegetative stage was reduced, and BN 2 had also a reduced flowering duration. In this experiment, with a water balance of -40 mm, the biomass production did not differ among cultivars, but the grain production of Souna III, with 2,950 kg ha(-1), was significantly higher than the others. In the experiment of April, with a water balance of -340 mm, the biomass was much lower than that of January, without differences among cultivars, and the grain production of the cultivar BRS 1501 (900 kg ha(-1)) was not different from those of african cultivars. The biomass production was greater at physiological maturity than at flowering, with a leaf N content above 2.1% on a leaf in the middle of the plant, The harvest of pearl millet at the physiological maturity has also the advantage of grain utilization.