P. SHALINI*, P. P. SURANA AND G. C. SHINDE
Department of Agricultural Botany
Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri (Maharashtra), India
*(e-mail : shalinipatil623.ss@gmail.com)
(Received : 31 December 2019; Accepted : 7 March 2020)
SUMMARY
In the present investigation, twenty four Bajra×Napier hybrids were developed and evaluated with four checks for 13 morphological traits planted in RBD with two replications in the Department of Agricultural Botany, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri. Analysis of variance revealed that mean squares due to genotypes were highly significant for all characters. Wide variations were observed for dry matter yield, crude protein yield, green forage yield, number of tillers/plant, average number of internodes/tiller and L: S ratio. The variation in green forage yield ranged between 1.78 kg/plant in RBN-16-55 to 8.26 kg/plant in PYT-13-391 with mean performance of 4.90 kg/plant. The genotype PYT-13-391(8.26) showed significantly higher green forage yield over the best check i.e. Phule Gunwant (6.88). Variation in crude protein (%) ranges between 7.01 per cent (RBN-17-38 and PYT-13-391) to 10.11 per cent (RBN-17-35) with mean performance of 8.53 per cent. Two genotypes viz., RBN-17-35 (10.11 %) and RBN-16-55 (9.98 %) recorded significantly higher crude protein per cent over best check i.e. Phule Jaywant (9.44).
Key words:Bajra×Napier hybrid, genetic variability, green forage yield and protein