Protein Fractions of Pearl Millet Submitted to Different Nitrogen Doses and Cutting Ages

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize and identify the protein fractions of two cultivars of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) – ADR-300 and cv. BN-1 – submitted to different nitrogen doses (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg.ha^-1) at three cutting ages. The experimental design used was randomized blocks with a 4 x 3 factorial treatment structure, with three repetitions. The crude protein concentration (CP) and the protein fractions A, B₁, B₂, B₃ and C of the pearl millet cultivars were evaluated by the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System. The CP concentrations differed according to the cultivars, with variation between the treatments of 14.01% to 23.29% for ADR-300 and 11.82% to 19.29% for BN-1. Fraction A (P<0.05) differed for the two cultivars, with variations also observed in the B₁, B₂ and B₃ fractions in function of the treatments applied. Fraction C (P<0.05) differed among treatments only on the first cutting, for all doses for the two cultivars evaluated. The nitrogen doses and cutting age influenced the composition of the protein fractions.