Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding
The limited adoption of modern pearl millet (Pennisetum
glaucum) hybrids in the arid zone of western Rajasthan
has been attributed to the lack of hybrids with sufficient
adaptation to this zone, a conclusion based largely on the
on-farm performance of hybrids under traditional
management systems. The objective of this research was
to determine if this conclusion is also true under improved
management conditions. This study compared six
recommended hybrids and six traditional landraces in 16
environments created through a combination of locations
and years over five crop seasons. Across all environments
the average grain yield ranged from 439 kg ha–1 to 3200 kg
ha–1. The mean grain yield of the landraces was similar to
that of the hybrids but the landraces provided significantly
higher biomass and stover yield. Only above a mean trial
grain yield of 2000 kg ha–1 the hybrids outyielded the
landraces for grain productivity. These results confirm that
even under well managed, but rainfed, arid zone
environments, current hybrids offer farmers little
advantage over their traditional landraces.
Keywords: Pennisetum glaucum, pearl millet, landraces, hybrids, grain yield, and response to environment
Year: 2008
Volume: 68
Issue: 2
Article DOI: N/A
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906
F. R. Bidinger, M. M. Sharma info_circle
O. P. Yadav info_circle
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