Morphogenetic characteristics of pearl millet under rotational grazing with different rest periods

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the morphogenetic characteristics of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), under rotational grazing with the following rest periods between grazings (RP), corresponding to the time required for expansion from: RP 1.5 to 2 leaves, RP 2.5 to 3 leaves and 3.5 to 4 leaves. Morphogenic characteristics were evaluated in four replications of the area (paddocks) and consisted of leaf blade growth, leaf senescence, stem growth, leaf appearance, phillochron and leaf life-span. The leaf blade growth rate was 6.4, 5.8 and 5.3 cm/day, the senescence rate was 0.71, 0.82 and 1.19 cm/day, the stem growth rate was 0.73, 1.42 and 2.2 cm/day, the leaf appearance rate was 0.158, 0.119 and 0.118, the phillochron was 93, 118 and 128 degrees day for the rest periods of 1.5 to 2, 2.5 to 3 and 3.5 to 4 leaves, respectively. The leaf life span was not affected by the rest periods but the meanvalues were much higher than those obtained in previous studies, thus it is not an efficacious parameter to determine rest periods. The accumulated rates of the morphogenic variables for the 1.5 to 2 leaf rest period during the crop cycle determined a higher plant investment in leaves and, consequently, the best morphogenic responses for the forage aspect.