Trends in Biosciences

This study was undertaken at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, India (20.95°N 72.93°E, elevation of 10 m above Sea level) during summer season of 2010. Three prominent pearlmillet cultivars viz., GHB538, GHB-558 and GHB-744 were tested statistically with three replications for their ability for grain and fodder production. The results gained from an experiment revealed that genotype GHB-538 recorded appreciably higher values of almost all the growth and yield parameters than rest of the varieties (GHB-558 and GHB-744). GHB538 was found significantly highest grain yielding variety (3.33 t ha⁻¹), followed by GHB-558 (2.87 t ha⁻¹) which was chased by GHB-744 (2.54 t ha⁻¹). Same trend was also observed in fodder yield i.e. significantly the higher fodder yield under variety GHB-538 (8.15 t ha⁻¹), followed by GHB558 (7.48 t ha⁻¹) and GHB-744 (6.30 t ha⁻¹). GHB-538 also gave the highest water use efficiency and net monetary benefits than the rest of the tested cultivars. Thus, GHB538 may be used for dual purpose (grain aswell as fodder) under south Gujarat conditions during summer season.