RESPONSE OF PEARL MILLET TO PLANT GEOMETRY AND CHANGING WEATHER
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Date
2019
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ACHARYA N G RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, GUNTUR
Abstract
A field experiment entitled Response of pearl millet to plant geometry and changing weather was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla in sandy loam soil during kharif 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with factorial concept and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of four spacings viz., (45 × 15 cm, 45 × 30 cm, 60 × 15 cm and 60 × 30 cm) as first factor and three dates of sowing (2nd fortnight of July, 1st fortnight of August and 2nd fortnight of August) as second factor.
Plant height was significantly influenced by spacings and dates of sowing at all stages of crop growth. Pearl millet sown during 2nd fortnight of July (D1) recorded significantly higher plant height, tillers m-2, drymatter production, number of earheads m-2, number of earheads per plant, days to maturity and earhead length, girth and weight. Among the spacings, significantly the highest drymatter, tillers m-2 and yield attributes were observed with the 45 × 15 cm (S1) as compared to other spacings viz., 45 × 30 cm (S2), 60 × 15 cm (S3) and 60 × 30 cm (S4). Among the dates of sowing, 2nd fortnight of July (D1) took maximum number of days to attain 50% flowering and maturity and was found significantly superior to 1st fortnight of August (D2) and 2nd fortnight of August (D3).
The highest grain yield of 2263 kg ha-1 was recorded with 2nd fortnight of July sowing (D1). Among the spacings, the highest grain yield of 2817 kg ha-1 was recorded with 45 × 15 cm (S1) and found significantly superior to 60 × 15 cm (S3) and 45 × 30 cm (S2). The highest straw yield was also recorded with 45 × 15 cm (S1) when sown on 2nd fortnight of July (D1), which was superior to 60 × 15 cm (S3) and 45 × 30 cm (S2) sown on same date.
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Days to attain each phenological stage for spacings differed in their duration. The maximum number of days to attain maturity were with 45 × 15 cm (S1) followed by 60 × 15 cm (S3) and 45 × 30 cm (S2).
Higher values of weather health indices / Agro-climatic indices viz., GDD, HTU, PTU, TPR, HUE, HtUE, PtUE and PTI were recorded with 2nd fortnight of July sowing (D1) followed by 1st fortnight of August (D2). Among the spacings 45 × 15 cm (S1) recorded the optimum values of weather health indices. These weather health indices were found to be optimum to produce the highest yields.
Significant linear relationship was observed for drymatter and grain yield with all the four spacings with weather health indices viz., GDD, HTU, PTU, TPR, HUE, HtUE, PtUE, and PTI. These regression equations could be applied to predict pearl millet growth and yield using daily information on temperature, photoperiod, day length and sunshine hours during the crop season.
Step down regression analysis indicated significant relation for four spacings of pearl millet and found that maximum temperature during vegetative stage, maximum temperature during reproductive stage and relative humidity during evening at maturity phase were found to have significant relation with the yield for all the four spacings of pearl millet with coefficient of determination from 98 to 99 %.
Correlation analysis indicated that there was significant relation among all the parameters except for earhead length, earhead girth, earhead weight, plant height and days to maturity. However, all the morpho - physiological parameters were strongly associated with significant correlation coefficients.
Highest gross and net returns (₹. 58432 and ₹. 36524) were observed with 45 × 15 cm (S1) followed by 45 × 30 cm (S2). Highest returns per rupee investment (₹.1.67) were recorded with 45 × 15 cm (S1) sown on 2nd fortnight of July (D1).
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D5903
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