Description

Family

  • Annual grass.
  • Pennisteum typhoides.
Pearl millet planted in September and killed by an early frost.
Figure 1. Pearl millet planted in September and killed by an early frost.

Cover crop use

  • After early harvested crop.
  • As a nematode suppressant.

Growth habits

Warm season grass.
Figure 2. Warm season grass.
Pearl millet will grow quickly under warm conditions.
Figure 3. Pearl millet will grow quickly under warm conditions.
Mowing millet will help to keep the plant vegetative and prevent the residue/stalks from becoming bulky and hard to decompose.
Figure 4. Mowing millet will help to keep the plant vegetative and prevent the residue/stalks from becoming bulky and hard to decompose.
Pearl millet has a heavy stalk, similar to sorghum.
Figure 5. Pearl millet has a heavy stalk, similar to sorghum.

Germination

  • Warm season grass; 65° to 70°F (18° to 21°C) is needed for rapid germination.

Top Growth

  • Solid stems, often densely hairy.
  • Several tillers per plant, only 1 seed stalk.
  • Drought resistant.

Root System

  • Fibrous.

Overwintering

  • Winterkills.

Site Suitability

  • Tolerant of most soil types, but well suited to sandy soils.
  • Tolerates infertile soils better than most other crops.

Control options

  • Tillage, frost, mowing and burndown herbicides can be used for control.

Weed control

  • There are no herbicides registered for weed control in pearl millet. Use narrow rows and appropriate agronomic practices to establish a vigorous crop canopy as soon as possible.
  • If grass weeds are heavy use a preplant burndown of glyphosate; broadleaf weeds can be controlled with Peakplus, Banvel or Basagran.

Benefits and cautions

Nutrient management

  • Fertilizer requirements are similar to other forage grasses, lower than corn (roughly 70% of forage corn fertilizer).

Pest management

  • Research shows that a pearl millet cover crop (using CFPM101 developed at the Delhi AAFC Research Station) is an effective way to reduce root lesion nematodes provided it is weed free.

Organic matter

  • If left to grow without cutting, can reach 12 ft in height.
  • If spring planted as a cover crop, should be mowed when 2.5 ft in height, mow no closer than 6–8 inches to the ground.
  • Biomass return is highly dependent upon planting date and first frost.

Other millets

  • There are a variety of other millets available, they are not commonly used as cover crops but may be used in annual forage mixtures.

Getting started

Establishment

  • Drill after danger of frost is past.
  • Soil temperatures should be above 12°C.
  • Plant ½ inch deep at a rate of 4 kg/ac.
  • Plant into a firm, well prepared seedbed.

Cost and availability

  • Seed can be expensive.