Effects of planting density on water use and productivity of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) grown on stored water. I. Growth of roots and shoots

    Azam-Ali, S N and Gregory, P J and Monteith, J L (1984) Effects of planting density on water use and productivity of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) grown on stored water. I. Growth of roots and shoots. Experimental Agriculture, 20 (3). pp. 203-214. ISSN 0014-4797

    [img]
    Preview
    		 PDF - Published Version
    Download (564kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    Pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum] was grown on stored water at Niamey, Niger, at row spacings of 38, 75 or 150 cm to determine the physiological basis of exploitation and conservation of water by crops during drought. Between 18 and 32 days after sowing, roots grew rapidly beneath all crops, reaching 140 cm in the narrow spacing, but there were differences between crops in the pattern of growth. Soil cores and trench profiles indicated that plants in wider rows had fewer deeper roots. Substantial differences in both the amount and pattern of shoot growth were recorded in the different populations. Initially growth was fastest at the narrow spacing but stopped by day 45 and eventually the wide spacing produced most DM due mainly to greater survival of tillers. The partitioning of aboveground DM into vegetative and reproductive fractions was similar at all 3 spacings and was consistent with figures for comparable crops elsewhere. The important role of tillers is discussed in relation to the development and maintenance of a canopy

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Subjects: Mandate crops > Millets
    Depositing User: Mr B K Murthy
    Date Deposited: 21 Jun 2012 09:28
    Last Modified: 21 Jun 2012 09:28
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/5960
    Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/1010.1017/S0014479700017774
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: Overseas Development Administration
    Acknowledgement: We are grateful to the Overseas Development Administraton for financing this work and to Drs D. Rijks and J. Denis and Mr P. Vossen for their considerable assistance in the management of this experiement.
    Links:
    View Statistics

    Actions (login required)

    View Item View Item
    OAR@ICRISAT is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.