Late Planting Date Influences the Yield and Distribution of Pearl Millet Forage

Staggered plantings of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] are recommended to better distribute forage production throughout the growing season, but the effect later planting has on yield potential and distribution are not well understood. The effect of delayed planting on total dry matter (DM) yield and the distribution of the yield produced by pearl millet were compared over three years in a small plot experiment at the University of Georgia's Plant Sciences Farm located near Watkinsville, GA. Five planting date treatments (beginning ca. 27 April of each year and on ca. 30-day increments thereafter) were compared. Total DM yields were the highest in the late April planting and decreased linearly (by as much as 80 lb/acre) for each day plantings were delayed past late April in 2008 and 2009 and quadratically during the extreme drought conditions of 2007. In contrast to previous reports for irrigated pearl millet plantings, the forage accumulation rate during the season did not result in a skewed distribution of yield in the planting dates of the current study. Staggering plantings beyond late April may not improve yield distribution within the forage system because of the yield decreases associated with later plantings of pearl millet.