Performance of Forage Sorghums and Millets under Repeated Cutting and Fertilization in the Markham Valley.

Abstract

In a comparison of four forage sorghums and two millets, the forage sorghums gave higher dry matter yield and persisted longer than millets. Millets disappeared after four ( white panicum) and five (MX00l) harvests but all the sorghum varieties persisted and yielded well even one year after establishment. All the sorghums responded to nitrogen application but Zulu responded most at lower level of nitrogen. Dry matter yield, nitrogen content and its yield all decreased with increasing maturity. Studies on plant characteristics ( e.g. tiller number, tiller size, stem and leaf proportion) and persistence under grazing indicated that Zulu is more suitable than other sorghums under the present climatic conditions and with proper management practices it should be possible to continue harvesting for about one year without ,replanting Practical implications of the results are also discussed.