ADAPTABILITY AND FORAGE POTENTIAL STUDIES IN FINGER MILLET (ELEUSINE CORACANA L) ACCESSIONS

PRAFULL KUMAR*, A. K. SARAWGI, B. K. DAS DEEPAK SHARMA2 VIKASH KUMAR AND GAUTAM VISHWAKARMA
IGKV, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), India
NABTD, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai (Maharashtra), India
Homi Bhabha National Institute, BARC Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai (Maharashtra), India
*(e-mail : prafull397@gmail.com)
(Received : 24 April 2021; Accepted : 26 June 2021)

SUMMARY

The present investigation was undertaken at Upland Research cum Instructional Farm, Lamker, SGCARS, IGKV, Raipur in Kharif 2018-19 with 100 germplasm accessions to evaluate the forage potential of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in augmented randomized block design. Mean squares for analysis of variance indicated significant differences among blocks, check and test entries for crop duration, canopy length and fodder weight. The maximum canopy length was recorded in genotype GEC-5 (126cm) followed by GEC-186 (125 cm), GEC-92 (124 cm), GEC-310 (122 cm), GEC-314 (120 cm) and others. Referring to crop duration, genotype IC0476378, IC0477043, GEC-322, GEC-11, IC0477620, GEC-296, GEC-53 and GEC-352 can be considered as good for medium fertile soil and average monsoon regions in lieu of mid-durational maturity. For fodder yield, IC0476495 (1646 g/plot) was recorded as most dominating genotype referring to the breeding objective and subsequently GEC11 (1222 g), GEC92 (1112 g), IC0477620 (1042 g), GEC132 (1027 g) and IC0477556-X (990 g) also showed fair potential. To get establish general crop growth parameters in association with fodder as objective, we conclude that 95-105cm of canopy length and 105-115 DAS of crop may be opted to achieve the maximum forage potential in finger millet. We further suggest that IC0476495, GEC11, GEC92, IC0477620, GEC132, IC0477556-X, IC0476838, IC0477317, GEC274, IC0477560, IC0477591 and GEC135 shown good potential and should be revalidated in next crop season followed by incorporation in replicated trials.

Key words: Finger millet, forage potential, germplasm accessions

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