Production of pearl millet biomass subjected to different nitrogen doses in relation to the trermal sum

Abstract

The pearl millet crop can be used for grazing and soil cover, being known as a plant that resistent many unfavorable conditions. Nitrogen is one of the macronutrients that provides high yields when applied in higher doses, resulting in greater animal stocking rates and increasing the daily weight gain of the herd. In Brazil, pearl millet is used for area recovery, soil cover, and grazing. The experiment was conducted in Três Cachoeiras (RS), on the Maggi family’s property, in region with a Cfa climate. Four treatments were carried out: 50% of the recommended nitrogen dose, 100%, 150%, and 200%, divided into 4 plots. The production of green biomass and dry biomassat the different nitrogen levels was analyzed. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey’s test at 5%, in aditional to Pearson correlation and regression analysis, seeking to determine tehe amount of nitrogen in the pearl millet crop that presents the highest biomas production. The results showed that doses above 100% increased biomass production, but the excess nitrogen reduced the crop’s efficiency, especially at the 200% dose, which had a negative correlation with the thermal sum. High rainfall also hindered the crop’s development, indicating the sensitivity of pearl millet to waterlogging conditions. It is concluded that the proper management of nitrogen fertilization is essential to optimize pearl millet productivity, and that application strategies that minimize nitrogen losses must be considered for greater sustainability.