NUTRIENT RELEASE FROM PEARL MILLET IN DIFFERENT PHENOLOGICAL STAGES

This study was carried out in an experimental area of the Faculdade de Agronomia of the Universidade de Rio Verde, from October 2004 to May 2005, in a clayey dystroferric Red Latosol (Oxisol). The purpose of the experiment was to evaluate nutrient release from Pennisetum glaucum straw, cv. ADR300, in three different phenological stages (pre-booting, pre-flowering and early flowering). Pennisetum glaucum was used as cover crop in a no tillage system, in a randomized block design, and split plots in time, with four replications, totalizing 9 m(2). To evaluate nutrient release, a decomposition bag system was used. After Pennisetum glaucum management, decomposition was evaluated during 150 days, at intervals of 30 days. Nutrient accumulation was highest at the early flowering stage. Nutrient release dynamics differed in all phenological stages, with exception of K, which was the nutrient of easiest release, regardless of the phenological stage.