Manga, V.K. and Kumar, A. (2011) Cultivar Options for Increasing Pearl Millet Productivity in Arid Regions. Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences, 1 (2). pp. 200-208.
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Abstract
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is traditionally a dry land crop, cultivated mostly in marginal environments of the arid and semi-arid regions, characterized by low rainfall, sandy soils with low fertility. This crop is primarily cultivated for grain purpose, but is also valued for its stover and fodder. The dual purpose nature of pearl millet offers both food and fodder security in the arid and semi-arid tropical regions of the country. Out of 9.43 m ha of pearl millet area in India, about 4.38 m ha is cultivated in Rajasthan, eighty percent of which occurs in western Rajasthan. Development of high yielding varieties of pearl millet has led to its increased productivity and stability largely in the regions with relatively better environments, while regions like western Rajasthan with high temperature and low rainfall still suffer from low productivity. This is because of the reason that a large number of areas under high yielding varieties (hybrids) in Rajasthan are merely 39%. The situation is worse in western Rajasthan, where farmers tend to prefer local cultivars over hybrids owing to greater risk of crop failure in poor years. Secondly, the desired production potential of these varieties could not be attained due to the incidence of downy mildew and other serious diseases. In the present paper a comparison has been made between hybrids and open pollinated varieties with respect to their grain yield and dry fodder yield production in A Zone (average annual rainfall <600 mm) and A1 Zone (average annual rainfall < 400 mm with high temperature). It has been observed that hybrids had clear grain yield as well as dry fodder yield advantage over open pollinated varieties in A zone as well as in A1 Zone. Thus, opportunity exists for increasing grain and fodder yields by growing hybrids that are adapted to this region and by bringing more area under hybrid cultivation through better seed supply and achieving high seed replacement rate
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Author Affiliation: | Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur-342003, Rajasthan, India |
| Subjects: | Plant Production |
| Divisions: | Millet |
| Depositing User: | Ms K Syamalamba |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Aug 2011 07:31 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Aug 2011 07:31 |
| Official URL: | http://www.cibtech.org/IJFALS%20PUBLICATIONS/Vol%2... |
| URI: | http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/2596 |
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