Determination of Forage Yield and Quality of Some Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) Populations in GAP Conditions

The research was carried out to determine the forage yield and quality traits of different 23 populations of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) in GAP conditions. The study was carried out in Akçakale/Şanlıurfa in 2021 under second crop conditions. All populations were harvested during the milk-dough period of the grains in the spike. Although it varies according to the populations in the study, an average of the number of flowering days of the population varied between 68.0 and 84.0 days, plant height between 248.5 and 306.16 cm, the number of leaves on the main stem between 9.83 and 16.0number, the total number of stems between 3.5 and 7.16 number/plant, the dry matter ratio between 17.66 and 45.17%. forage yield between 798.16 and 2569.83 g/plant and hay yield between 272.12 and 1054.18 g/plant. In addition, forage quality characteristics such as: NDF are 52.04-65.65%, ADF are 37.84-45.75%, crude protein rates are 8.49-12.93%, digestible dry matter ratios 52.64-59.42%, dry matter Intake 1.83-2.30%, relative feed values 70.71-104.9, net energy lactation 1.23-1.36 mcal kg-1 DM. It was determined that calcium varied between 0.06-0.21%, potassium varied between 2.47-4.18%, magnesium varied between 0.06-0.25% and phosphorus values varied between 0.33-0.42%. It was concluded that 277, 1566, 2761, 2789, 3329, and 3432;3525, 1625, 2083, 2167, 2322 and 2704 were superior to the standard variety White in term of biomass yield and forage quality, In addition, it was concluded that these populations, which stand out in terms of forage yield and quality, can be evaluated in future breeding studies