Siromill Pearl mill
et is a warm season annual grass. It originated in Africa and India where it is used for both forage and grain. A stand of pearl millet will produce plants with relatively fine stems in comparison to most forage sorghums, and profuse leafy growth. Pearl millet has a significantly higher leaf to stem ratio than other forages such as Sudan grass, and most hybrid forage sorghums.
Siromill was developed by the CSIRO. It was selected as being the most consistent for high production of leaf dry matter. Under grazing, it forms a dense, leafy crown. It was evidently moe acceptable to livestock than other millets with which it was compared, and this could be due to its low leaf grinding energy resulting in increased animal production.
Soils
This grass grows best on fertile well drained soils, but does not have a high nutrient demands. It is also suited to sandy soils. It will tolerate poor, infertile soils better the most other forage including grain sorghums. It has the same adaption as sorghum, except that is is somewaht more drought tolerant and has a little earlier maturity. It also tolerates low soil pH better than sorghum and is tolerant of salinity
At a Glance
Summer growing annual forage grass
Very palatable
Grows rapidly. Grazing from 4 to 6 weeks after planting.
Tolerant of acid soils.
