Evaluation of Finger Millet Varieties under Rainfed Condition of Eastern India

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the kharif of 2014 and 2015 to evaluate the yield potential, economics and thermal utilization in eleven finger millet varieties under the rainfed condition of the sub-humid environment of South Bihar of Eastern India. Results revealed that the significantly higher grain yield (20.41 q ha-1), net returns (Rs 25301) and B: C ratio (1.51) was with the finger millet variety ‘GPU 67’ but was being at par to ‘GPU28’and ‘RAU-8’, and significantly superior over remaining varieties. The highest heat units (1535.1oC day), helio-thermal units (7519.7oC day hours), phenothermal index (19.4 oC days day-1) were recorded with variety ‘GPU 67’ followed by ‘RAU 8’ and ‘GPU 28’ and lowest in ‘VL 149’ at 50 % anthesis stage. Similarly, the highest growing degree days (2100 oC day), helio-thermal units (11035.8 oC day hours) were noted with ‘GPU 67’ followed by ‘RAU 8’ and ‘GPU 28’ at maturity. The highest heat use efficiency (0.97 kg ha-1 oC day) and helio-thermal use efficiency (0.19 kg ha-1 oC day hour) were in ‘GPU 67’ followed by ‘VL 315’.