Forage Growth and Productivity of Pearl Millet as Affected by Soil Mulching, Planting Date under Salinity Conditions

TWO FIELD experiments were carried out, at Ras Sudr Experimental Station, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, during the two summer growing seasons 2011 and 2012. This work was conducted to study the effect of three sowing dates, i.e. 1st May, 15th May and 1st June and four soil surface mulching treatments (i.e. without, plastic sheet, one and two tons rice straw/fed) under two levels of saline water irrigation conditions, i.e. 4500 and 8000 ppm on some growth characters and forage yield of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br]. Obtained results showed that the growth characters and forage yield of pearl millet, i.e. plant height, number of tillers/plant, number of leaves/plant, leaf area index, leaves dry weight, stem dry weight and total plant dry weight reduced significantly by increasing saline water irrigation levels from 4500 to 8000 ppm. Early sowing date, at 1st May, produced the highest significant values of the most growth characters and the total forage dry weight. Meantime, the growth traits and forage dry yield were significantly affected by using 2 ton of rice straw/fed and plastic sheet soil mulching treatments which produced the highest values of leaves, stem and total dry weights/fed, compared to unmulching or using one ton rice straw/fed treatments.