Effect of Plant Density on Yield and Yield Components of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum Glaucum (L.) R.Br.) In a Semi Arid Environment in Northern Nigeria
*Bibinu, A. T. S¹, Auwalu, B. M.², Russom, Z² and Ndahi, W.B¹.
¹Lake Chad Research Institute, P.M.B. 1293 Maiduguri, Nigeria.
²Crop Production Programme, School of Agriculture, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B.0248, Bauchi, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author: Tel:+234 (08)05 4685 659, +234 (0)76-371381
Accepted on April 25, 2006
Abstract
Field experiment was conducted at Maiduguri and Gashua during 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons to evaluate three millet varieties (SOSAT – C88, LC-IC9702 and ZATIB) at four plant densities (26,667; 35,556; 53,333 and 88,888 plant per hectare) for grain yield and other agronomic characters. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated four times. Observations were taken on number of days to 50% flowering, leaf area index (LAI), plant height, number of tillers per plant, harvest index (HI) and grain yield. The results indicated significant differences among the varieties in all the character studied. LC – IC19702 was the earliest to flower compared with either SOSAT –C88 or ZATIB. The numbers of tillers per plant and harvest index were significantly higher at the lower plant densities. The highest grain yield was recorded at 53,333 plants per hectare which was comparable with the yield obtained at 35,556 plants per hectare. The variety SOSAT – C88 gave the highest grain yield in both locations.