GENOTYPIC VARIATION OF PEARL-MILLET FOR GROWTH AND YIELD ON ACID SOIL

Genotypes of plant species need to be assessed for ability to grow with fairly severe acid soil constraints. Twenty pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br.) genotypes were grown on an ultisol (Typic Palehumult) with 60% Al saturation and on an oxisol (Tropeptic Haplustox) with 53% Al saturation in Colombia, South America, to determine the effects of acid soil factors on growth-and-yield-component traits. Five of the genotypes were also grown on the acid ultisol at 50% Al saturation. The mean grain-yields of the genotypes grown on both soils ranged from 2260 to 3820 kg ha-1. Plants grown on the oxisol had slightly higher yields than plants grown on the ultisol. Grain yield, grain plant-1, seed plant-1 and head length decreased, and days to flower, number of tillers, plant height, head diameter and seed weight were unaffected when plants were grown on the relatively severe acid soils. Pearl millet genotypes grew relatively well on the fairly severe acid soils.