FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY OF TWO NIGERIAN PEARL MILLET TYPE AS INFLUENCED BY SOWING DATES

Abstract

The effect of sowing dates on yield and quality or t\V0 Nigerian pearl millet types was evaluated in 2 x3 factorial experiment arranged as a split plot with three blocks. The sowing dates formed the main plot factor while pearl millet types were assigned as the sub-plot factor. The two millet types were sown at 7-week intervals in May, July and September. Forage yield was estimated at boot stage and quality indices such as crude protein and crude fibre were determined through proximate composition. The result revealed that forage yield declined significantly with delayed sowing. Forage yield was not influenced significantly by millet types. The quality of forage as indicated by the crude protein shows only slight diilérence across the sowing date. The extended vegetative growth with early sown millet types does not inwact the quality of the millet negatively.