EFFECT OF N, P AND K, ON GROWTH, YIELD AND RESPONSE TO NEMATODE INFESTATION OF SOME FORAGE PEARL MILLET (Pennisetum typhoides) VARIETIES

Two field trials were conducted at the Experimental Farm of Sers-Elliyan I
Agricultural Research Station, Menoufia Governorate, to estimate the effect of N, P, K
and their different combinations on growth, yield and response to nematode
infestation of two forage millet, Pennisetum typhoides varieties.
The combinati.on of NPK at the rate of 90kg N+ 30kg. P20s: + 48kg K20/fed.
gave the hrghesf varues, of plant hei~ht, leaf area, number of tillers I plant and stem
diameter, as well as fresh and' dry forage: yield of pearl millet. Whereas, 3.01<g £If +
15kg P20S + 24 kg K20tfed. treatment gave the lowest values of the same characters I
inboth seasons.
NPK application at 90 I(g N' + 30 Kg P20S + 48kg K20 per fed. resulted in
significantly reduction of the mixed nematode community of both soil and roots of
pearl millet by 54.69% and 69.74% over treatment received 30 kg N + 15 kg P20S +
24 kg K20/fed. Concerning to the varietal effect on growth characters, fresh and dry
forage yield of pearl millet, Shandawil I variety surpassed Composed variety in
increasing the respective parameters values. Host reaction of the tested varieties to
nematode infestation reveald that Composed variety was more susceptible to plan
parasitic nematodes than Shandawil I variety.