Yield Of Pearl Millet Research Articles

Variety and management selection to optimize pearl millet yield and profit in Senegal

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br.) water-limited yield gap in Senegal is estimated at 2.2 Mg ha-1. Proper variety and management selection are critical to the sustainable intensification of millet systems. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of two pearl millet varieties and different crop management (plant density-nutrient rates) treatments on i) biomass yield, ii) grain yield, and iii) farm profit magnitude and responsiveness. The study was conducted on three sites during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 growing seasons with a total of nine site-years. Two varieties, Souna 3 (traditional) and Thialack 2 (dual-purpose), and 48 management treatments including two plant densities (37–74 × 1000 plants ha-1) and 24 different levels of nutrient combinations ranging from 0 to 149 kg ha-1 nitrogen (N, as urea), 0–67 kg ha-1 phosphorus (P2O5, as double super phosphate), 0–33 kg ha-1 potassium (K2O, as potassium chloride) and 0–14 987 kg ha-1 cow manure (M), were tested in all site-years. Thialack 2 presented greater biomass yield in three and grain yield in four site-years (out of nine site-years) relative to Souna 3. Management treatments with greatest magnitude and responsiveness produced on average 4.6 Mg ha-1 biomass yield with averaged nutrient rates of 102–37–26 NPK, 2 Mg ha-1 grain yield with averaged nutrient rates of 91–32–24 NPK, 682 USD ha-1 profit at low biomass and grain prices with averaged nutrient rates of 72–22–21 NPK, and 1183 USD ha-1 profit at high biomass and grain prices with averaged nutrient rates of 83–29–22 NPK, all at 74 thousand plants ha-1, regardless of variety used. Five to seven management practices were able to concurrently optimized biomass yield, grain yield, and farmer profit. Sustainably intensifying pearl millet systems by using improved variety and management practices have great potential to promote greater yields and farm profitability in Senegal.

On-farm hydro and nutri-priming increases yield of rainfed pearl millet through physio-biochemical adjustments and anti-oxidative defense mechanism.

Seed priming technique has a marvelous potential in enhancing seed germination and crop establishment under limited soil moisture conditions, which ultimately increases yield. Therefore, we investigated the effects of seed priming on physiology, growth, yield and antioxidant defense system of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under rain-fed condition. The experiments were conducted under laboratory as well as field conditions comprising three treatments i.e., non-primed seeds (control, T0), priming with tap water (hydropriming) (T1) and priming with 2% KNO3 2% for 6 hours at 25°C followed by shade drying (T2). The results showed that chlorophyll content (10.37-14.15%) and relative water content (RWC) (12.70-13.01%) increased whereas proline (-19.44 to -25%) and soluble sugar (-15.51 to -29.13%) contents decreased on account of seed priming in pearl millet under field conditions. The seed priming significantly improved the plant height, final plant stand and grain weight which resulted in increased yield. Enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (5.89 to 8.10 unit/g/seed/min), catalase (CAT) (22.54 to 39.67 µmol/min/g/seed) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (8.92 to 22.10 µmol/cm/min/g) and concomitant decrease in H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) content suggests their role in imparting oxidative tolerance at initial stages of growth in primed seed. The lab studies suggest that the improved yield might be attributes to increased seed germination and seedling vigor. It is recommended that the hydropriming (tap water) or KNO3 (2%) priming of seeds for 6 hours under ambient conditions is effective to enhance growth and yield of pearl millet under rainfed conditions.

The impacts of climate change on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa: A spatial panel data approach

This paper reports estimates of the economic impact of changes in weather variables on sub-Saharan African pearl millet yield based on panel data for 1970–2016. We control for spatial effects in all the components of our exposure–response function, plus a lag in time of the covariates through spatio-temporal econometrics techniques. Our results indicate own-location weather variables have significant contemporaneous impacts on millet yield. Specifically, we find that vapor pressure deficit, wet day frequency and temperature are important determinants of millet yield. In addition, accounting for spatial and temporal spillovers exacerbates and attenuates wet day cumulative effect, respectively, and local crop production is affected by neighboring countries’ production. The results are robust to several sensitivity checks, including accounting for adaptation using long-term averages, and are consistent across country-income groups. We also use our estimates to forecast how crop production would respond to climate change in the mid-future.

Influence of Organic Nutrients and Bioinoculants on Growth and Productivity of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under Semi-arid Conditions of Rajasthan

Background: Pearl millet is also called as the “Powerhouse of Nutrition” as it consists of most of the important nutrients in good quantity and quality which are required for maintaining healthy life. Indiscriminate use of high analysis chemical fertilizers results in the environment pollution which is detrimental to the sustainability; there is an urgent need for adoption of farming practice which ensures sustainability, good soil, human and environmental health. Method: A field experiment was taken for three consecutive years during kharif season of 2018 to 2020 at Agronomy Research Farm, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan to study the impact of various sources of organic nutrients and bioinoculants on growth and productivity of pearl millet. The treatments were comprised of chemical fertilizers, organic manures and microbial biofertilizer consortia (consisting of Azotobactor, Azospirillum and phosphate solubilizing bacteria) commercially branded as Biomix, which were tested in randomized block design with three replications. Result: All the treatments including farmyard manure (FYM) and vermicompost with and without Biomix had significant effect on soil properties, growth andyield parameters and yield of pearl millet. The pooled data clearly showed that recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) recorded significantly higher grain (3494 kg/ha) and stover (8612 kg/ha) yields of pearl millet and found at par with treatments T6: 100% RDN through FYM + Biomix; T7: 75% RDN through FYM + Biomix; T8: 100% RDN through vermicompost + Biomixand T9: 75% RDN through vermicompost + Biomixover rest of the treatments. With respect to economics T6 (100% RDN through FYM + Biomix) recorded highest net returns of Rs. 75602 and B:C ratio (4.14) followed by treatment T7 (75% RDN through FYM + Biomix). Continuous application of organic manures with biofertilizers had also significant improvement on soil OC (0.39%), phosphorus (54 kg/ha), potash (310 kg/ha), Zn (0.92 ppm) and Fe (6.92 ppm) over initial soil status.

Effect of Biofertilizer and Organic Manure on Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)


 A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2021, at crop research farm of Department of Agronomy at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj in North Eastern plains of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The objective of the research study was to determine the effect of Bio fertilizer and Organic manure on growth and yield of Pearl millet under Randomized block design comprising of 9 treatments of which treatments with different combination of Rhizobium and VAM along with Organic manure like FYM and Vermicompost which were replicated thrice. The experimental results revealed that plant height (201.20 cm) and plant dry weight (50.05 g) were recorded significantly (P<0.05) highest in treatment Rhizobium @ 5 g/kg + VAM @ 5g/kg + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha. The highest number of ears/hill (2.43), number of grains/ear head (2157.33), grain yield (1973.00 Kg/ha), straw yield (3920 kg/ha) and harvest index (41.32%) were recorded with treatment Rhizobium @ 5 g/kg + VAM @ 5g/kg + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha.
 

Desalinization effect of simulated cut‐soiler‐based residue filled preferential shallow subsurface drainage: Improvement of physiology and yield of rain‐fed pearl millet in saline semiarid regions

AbstractSoil salinity is a major soil degradation problem that limits agricultural production. The cut‐soiler constructed preferential shallow subsurface drainage (PSSD) method is a promising salinity management technology for small‐scale application and adoption in drylands. This study assessed the effectiveness of rice residue‐filled PSSD in managing soil salinity and its effect on the physiology and yield of pearl millet. The cut‐soiler simulated drains were constructed manually in semi‐controlled lysimeter. A double replicated, split–spilt plot experiment, comprising with and without cut‐soiler drainage (main‐plot), two soil types (sub‐plot) and three irrigation water salinity (4, 8, 12 dS m−1) (sub‐sub plot) were conducted during 2019–2020. The cut‐soiler PSSD reduced ~60% soil salinity after 2 years. The PSSD reduced soil salinity by 23.28 and 41.46% in April 2019 and April 2020 (before pearl millet sowing). This reduction was 32.24 and 46.23% in October 2019 and 2020 (at harvest). Cut‐soiler drainage (PSSD) areas recorded lower soil moisture (%) indicated greater outflow of water and salinity. The salinity Inhibition efficiency increased upto 2 years of construction and then decline. The pearl millet grain and biological yields were improved by 23.54 and 12.64%, respectively and a positive effect on plant water relations and physiology was observed. The cut‐soiler PSSD was found to enhance salt removal and reduce salt accumulation under saline water irrigation. These drains can be constructed in a single farm operation at individual farm levels. Therefore, it could be a potential alternative for soil salinity management in semi arid regions irrigated with saline groundwater.

Deciphering Pearl Millet Grain Yield under Water Stress using Genotypic, Phenotypic Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis

Yield is a polygenic character, usually depends on its various contributing traits like days to 50% flowering, plant height, and panicle length as well as panicle girth. A study was conducted during kharif 2018 to evaluate the relationship between grain yield and its components in pearl millet using correlation and path analysis studies. In the current study, significant genotypic and phenotypic correlations were found among five yield contributing traits in eighteen pearl millet hybrids. The traits including days to 50% flowering, plant height, and panicle length were found to have positive correlation with grain yield per plant that implied the importance of those traits in selection of high yielding hybrids. Grain yield per plant was used as a dependent character in path-coefficient analysis at the genotypic level. Plant height and panicle length were the independent variables (cm). The highest positive and direct effect was found for days to 50 percent flowering (0.9946) followed by panicle diameter (cm) (0.5726). Pearl millet having deep root system are often found to survive even in various stressful conditions including water stress. These characteristics have made it popular in dry and semi-arid regions around the world; nevertheless, compared to other major cereals, less work has been put into the study of climate-resilient characteristics of pearl millet. We have revealed here some basic ideas of correlation between the grain yield of pearl millet with its yield contributing constituents under drought condition.

Changes in physical and chemical properties of saline soil amended with municipal solid waste compost and chemical fertilizers in a mustard–pearl millet cropping system

AbstractSoil salinity is a severe threat in arid and semiarid agro‐ecosystem of India, and it is directly influenced by soil physical properties. Therefore, understanding the dynamic nature of salinity is the key to implementing suitable management options for re‐builing the fertility of saline soils. In this context, we conducted field experiments in saline soil, comprising five treatments (1‐5 following) and a control (C). These are: C) no amendments and chemical fertilizer; T1) recommended dose nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N‐P‐K) fertilizers @60:30:30 kg ha−1; T2) 100% recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (RDF).; T3) rice straw compost (RSC) @14 Mg ha−1; T4) gypsum enriched compost (GEC) @14 Mg ha−1; and T5) municipal solid waste compost @16 Mg ha−1 (MSWC) applied for three consecutive years (2012 to 2015). Our results revealed that compost and chemical fertilizer had significant effect on soil organic carbon, soil aggregate stability indices, soil water retention, transmission characteristics, and pore size distribution. This improvement in soil physical properties imparted into better soil physical environment and significant reduction in soil salinity (75%) was apparent with application of MSWC. Multivariate analysis indicated that mean weight diameter (MWD) and retension pores (RP) were the two main soil physical properties that help to reduce soil salinity. Our results revealed that, MWD increased by 49.1% in MSWC and 37.7% in GEC over control (C) (0.53 mm). Improvement in soil environment under composted soil produced significantly higher grain yield of mustard (2.22 Mg ha−1) and pearl millet (2.29 Mg ha−1) with MSWC as compared to control (C). Organic amendments significantly improved the soil physical environment.

Studies on Growth, Yield and Economics of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) var. VARUN - 666 as Influenced by Bio Fertilizer and Spacing

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2021, at crop research farm of Department of Agronomy at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj in North Eastern plains of Eastern Uttar Pradesh with the objective to study the effect of bio fertilizer and spacing on growth, yield and economics of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Var. VARUN - 666 under Randomized block design comprising of 9 treatments of which treatments (T1-T9) with different bio fertilizer combination of Azatobacter and Azospirillum along with spacing which are replicated thrice. The experimental results revealed that Application of Azotobacter @ 12.5g/kg +Azospirillum @ 12.5g/kg + 60 cm ×15 cm recorded significantly higher plant height (210.20 cm), Number of leaves/hill (40.3), Highest plant dry weight (49.49 gm), number of tillers/hill (3.3), number of ears/hill (2.43), number of grains/ear head (2097.33), grain yield (2.77 t/ha), straw yield (3.91 t/ha net return (Rs.1,03,453/ha), gross return (Rs.1,41,440/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.72).

Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Var ABV-04 as Influenced by Nitrogen & Phosphorus Effects on Growth Parameters and Yield

Background: Pearl millet can grow in a variety of environments. Pearl millet is a viable alternative to sorghum in areas where it cannot thrive. When it comes to soil moisture utilisation and heat tolerance, sorghum and maize cannot compete with pearl millet.
 Objectives: Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth parameters and yield of pearl millet
 Methods: With the goal of studying the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth and yield of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Var. ABV - 04 under a Randomized block design with 9 treatments (T1-T9) The experimental results revealed that 120 kg N/ha + 60 kg P/ha produced maximum plant height (214.37), plant dry weight (46.74) and yield parameters ear head length (20.77 cm), number of grains/ear head (1972.0), grain yield (2.68 t/ha), and stover yield (3.77).
 Conclusion: The combination of 120 kg nitrogen/ha and 60 kg phosphorus/ha proved to be the most advantageous to farmers, resulting in 214.37-cm plant height, 46.74-gm plant dry weight, 1972 grains per ear head, and 2.68 ta grain and 3.26 ta stover yields, respectively.

Study of Productivity and Economics of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Variety ABV -04 in Relation to Nitrogen and Phosphorus

Background: Pearl millet can thrive in a wide range of local conditions. In areas where sorghum cannot thrive, pearl millet is a viable alternative. Sorghum and maize can't compete with pearl millet when it comes to soil moisture utilisation and heat tolerance.
 Objectives: Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on yield and economics of pearl millet
 Methods: With the goal of studying the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on yield and economics of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Var. ABV - 04 under a Randomized block design with 9 treatments (T1-T The experimental results revealed that 120 kg N/ha + 60 kg P/ha produced ear head length (20.77 cm), number of grains/ear head (1972.0), grain yield (2.68 t/ha), harvest index (41.49 percent).T9 120 kg N/ha + 60 kg P/ha produced greater net returns (95,132.00 INR/ha), gross returns (1,36,544.00 INR/ha), and benefit-to-cost ratios (2.30).
 Conclusion: 120 kg N/ha + 60 kg P/ha yielded the highest net return (95,132.00INR /ha), gross return (1,36,544.00INR /ha), and benefit: cost ratio than any other combination of nutrition source (2.30).

Effect of Moisture Conservation Practices on Growth and Yield of Pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend Stuntz] Hybrids

Background: A field experiment was conducted under loamy sand soil during two consecutive kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019 at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner, Jaipur to find out the best moisture conservation practices on growth and yield of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend Stuntz] hybrids. Methods: Hybrids viz., RHB-173, RHB-177, MPMH-17 and HHB-67 in main plots and moisture conservation practices viz., control, dust mulch, straw mulch, plastic mulch and seed line mulching of FYM in sub plots were tested using split plot design replicated four. Result: The results further indicated that hybrid RHB-173 being at par with RHB-177 significantly higher plant height, dry matter accumulation, yield attributes, grain yield (2097 kg/ha), stover yield (5500 kg/ha) and biological yield (7597 kg/ha) over MPMH-17 and HHB-67. Result showed that application of plastic mulch recorded significantly increased the plant height, dry matter accumulation, yield attributes, grain yield (2145 kg/ha), stover yield (5620 kg/ha) and biological yield (7764 kg/ha) compared to other moisture conservation practices in both the years of experimentation as well as on pooled basis.

Exploring plant growth-promoting

The present study aimed to demonstrate the use of two strains of Streptomyces albus (CAI-24 and KAI-27) and one strain of S. griseus (MMA-32) for plant growth-promotion (PGP) and improving pearl millet yield and nutrient content under greenhouse and field conditions. Two hybrids, a low-Fe (PA-9444; non-biofortified hybrid) and high-Fe (ICMH-1201; biofortified hybrid), treated with selected Streptomyces strains, significantly enhanced a range of traits including grain yield in the glasshouse (13–23%) and field (9–12%) over the control. In the greenhouse experiments an enhanced stover and grain nutrient concentrations were observed in ICMH-1201 (Fe 53% and 40%; Zn 15% and 10%; Ca 11% and 29%) over the control, while such nutrition augmentations were not found in PA-9444. The field harvested stover and grain nutrient concentrations were also increased over the control in both hybrids. A higher stover nutrient concentration was found in ICMH-1201 while PA-9444 had an increase in grain nutrient concentration indicating the significance of these Streptomyces strains’ PGP role in the non-biofortified hybrid. Based on this study, strains KAI-27 and MMA-32 significantly improved shoot weight, root weight and grain yield while CAI-24 and MMA-32 improved nutrient concentrations including Fe contents (up to 49%) in grain as well as in stover. Further, the stover samples of pearl millet contained a higher Fe concentration (150–200%) compared to grain samples. This study confirms that the selected Streptomyces strains have the potential for enhancing PGP and stover and grain nutrient concentrations in pearl millet and can complement the existing conventional biofortification strategies.

Energy and carbon budgeting of the pearl millet-wheat cropping system for environmentally sustainable agricultural land use planning in the rainfed semi-arid agro-ecosystem of Aravalli foothills

Improvements in energy-use efficiency and carbon footprint reduction are critical for the sustainability of agricultural systems. The present study was aimed at evaluating the suitability of pearl millet-wheat cropping system as an environmentally sustainable land use option in the rainfed semi-arid ecosystem of the Aravalli foothills, India. The socio-economic survey was done in five land management units (LMUs) to collect real-world data using stratified random sampling technique. The results showed high yields of pearl millet and wheat (2.5 t ha−1 and 4.5 t ha−1) with high net return (1424 US $ ha−1) under large holdings of LMU5. The mean total energy consumed in the system was 32265 MJ ha−1, wherein non-renewable and renewable energy sources contributed 77% and 23%, respectively. Large holdings of LMU5 produced significantly high net energy return (243989 MJ ha−1), energy-use efficiency (9.8), carbon efficiency (11.9), and carbon sustainability index (10.9). The carbon footprint was high under marginal and small holdings, which necessitates soil and water conservation measures to achieve high yields. In the pearl millet-wheat system, energy-smart and carbon-efficient approaches of crop cultivation need to be popularized to attain sustainable productivity in the semi-arid ecosystem.

Root traits for low input agroecosystems in Africa: Lessons from three case studies.

In many regions across Africa, agriculture is largely based on low-input and small-holder farming systems that use little inorganic fertilisers and have limited access to irrigation and mechanisation. Improving agricultural practices and developing new cultivars adapted to these environments, where production already suffers from climate change, is a major priority for food security. Here, we illustrate how breeding for specific root traits could improve crop resilience in Africa using three case studies covering very contrasting low-input agroecosystems. We first review how greater basal root whorl number and longer and denser root hairs increased P acquisition efficiency and yield in common bean in South East Africa. We then discuss how water-saving strategies, root hair density and deep root growth could be targeted to improve sorghum and pearl millet yield in West Africa. Finally, we evaluate how breeding for denser root systems in the topsoil and interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could be mobilised to optimise water-saving alternate wetting and drying practices in West African rice agroecosystems. We conclude with a discussion on how to evaluate the utility of root traits and how to make root trait selection feasible for breeders so that improved varieties can be made available to farmers through participatory approaches.

Integrated weed management in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.

The scarcity of labour in agriculture and change in behaviour, weed management in rain fed pearl millet is very difficult. Further, to improve/ fine tune the existing recommendation of weed management in pearl millet, this experiment was planned. A field experiment was carried out during the rainy (Kharif) seasons of 2012 to 2014 in sandy loam soils at ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millet, Research Farm, Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, Jodhpur (Agriculture University, Jodhpur), to evaluate the effect of integrated weed management in rainfed pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) with pre-emergence application of atrazine 0.5 kg/ha + 1 HW at 35 DAS, four levels of post-emergence application of atrazine (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 kg/ ha) along with one hand weeding at 35 DAS, two hand weeding and hoeing (at 20 and 40 DAS). Eight treatment combinations were laid out in randomized block design in four replications. All weed management practices caused significant improvement in grain and dry fodder yield of pearl millet compared to the weedy check (1943 kg/ha and 30.86 q/ha). The best treatment was found weed free and it was followed by post emergence application of Atrazine @ 0.4 kg/ha. In comparison to the weed dry matter recorded at harvest with weedy check (547.1 kg/ha), all weed management practices recorded quite lower dry matter of weeds and were found to be at par in managing weeds compared to the weed free plot. Efficiency of post emergence application of Atrazine @ 0.2,0.3 and 0.4 kg/ha was found more better in controlling weeds than the recommended practice of managing weeds by pre emergence application of Atrazine. Weed control efficiency were also found higher in weed free and it was followed by two hand weeding and post emergence application of Atrazine @ 0.4 kg treatments, respectively.

Zero Tillage, Residue Retention and System-Intensification with Legumes for Enhanced Pearl Millet Productivity and Mineral Biofortification

Pearl millet-based cropping systems with intensive tillage operations prior to sowing have limited sustainable productivity in the low-irrigation conditions of semi-arid farming ecologies, such as those in the north Indian plains. The adoption of improved management practices such as zero tillage with residue retention (ZTR) and diversification with the inclusion of summer pulse crops has the potential to improve cropping system sustainability. Therefore, an experiment was designed to compare two improved management practices, zero tillage (ZT) and ZTR, to conventional tillage (CT), across three pearl millet-based cropping systems: pearl millet–chickpea (PM–CP), PM–CP–mungbean (MB), and PM–CP–forage pearl millet in a two-year experiment. Experimental treatments were compared in terms of pearl millet productivity, mineral biofortification, and greenhouse gas emissions. Results showed a significant increase in pearl millet yield attributes, grain and stover productivity, nutrient uptake, and micronutrient biofortification in the PM–CP–MB cropping system under ZTR relative to other treatment combinations. On-farm evaluation at different locations also showed that the intensification of PM–CP system using summer crops enhanced pearl millet productivity across diverse tillage systems. Overall, zero tillage practices combined with diversified pearl millet-based cropping systems are likely to be management practices, which farmers can use to sustainably maintain or increase cropping system productivity in the various semi-arid areas of the world.

Effect of Changing Rainfall Situation on Yield of Pearl millet in Medium Deep Soil of Scarcity Zone of Maharashtra

The present invitation entitled “ Effect of changing rainfall situation on yield of pearl millet in medium deep soil of scarcity zone of Maharashtra.” was carried out during 2016-20 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Solapur, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra (India). The experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications. Nine treatment combinations were formed considering different cultivars viz., V1(ICTP-8203), V2 Mahyco Hybrid and V3 Dhanashakti and sowing windows viz., (S1) 2nd fortnight of June (25th June), (S2) - 2nd fortnight of July (27th-July) S3 - 2nd fortnight of August (24th - August). Among the three pearl millet sowing window crop sown in second fortnight of July (S2) produced significantly higher grain yield (1518.9 kg ha-1), biomass yield (2658.1 kg ha-1), total monetary returns (Rs. 33090 ha-1),CUM(383.7 mm), (MUE) (3.95 Kg ha-1 mm), GDD (1941-20610 days) and RUE (1.19g MJ-1) than other sowing dates. Among the genotypes Dhanashakti produced significantly higher grain yield (1369.9 kg ha-1), biomass yield (2525.5 kg ha-1) and total monetary returns (Rs. 29994 ha-1) than other cultivars. Under changing rainfall situation sowing of Kharif pearl millet contingent crop variety Dhanashakti upto 02nd September (Meteorological week no. 34-35) in medium deep soil of scarcity zone of Maharashtra is recommended for more sustainability in production. Following regression equation based on weather parameters for predicting the yield (prior to 2 weeks) is recommended. ÖYield= -101.38 + (-0.21 x Tmin) + (2.49 x RH-1) + (-1.34 x RH-2) + (0.08 x RF).

Effect of weeds control measures on weeds and yield of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum L.

Effect of weeds control measures on weeds and yield of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum L.

Effects of low-cost agricultural technology package on income, cereal surplus production, household expenditure, and food security in the drylands of Mali

<abstract> <p>This study assessed the effects of introducing a technology package consisting of seed priming and microdosing of mineral fertilizer on sorghum and pearl millet yield, cereal production, net value of cereal production, household expenditure, adoption rate of technology and household food security in the millet and sorghum producing areas in Mopti, Segou and Koulikoro regions of Mali. Three different surveys were undertaken to collect the data during the period from 2013 to 2015. The first survey assessed the farmers practices (360 households), the second survey assessed production, household expenditure and food security in the households (54 households) and the third survey assessed the adoption rates of the technologies (108 households). The surplus cereal production was in average 1155 kg/household for adopting households while non-adopting households had a surplus of only 196 kg/household. The monetary surplus increased from 31.2 Euro for non-adopting households to 215.6 Euro for adopting households. Households using the package spent 167.8 Euro on health, children's education, and other necessities while non-adopting households spent only 29.5 Euro. Furthermore, households using the package spent 55.9 Euro on fertilizer against close to zero for non-adopting households. Finally, the number of food insecure months were significantly reduced from 3.57 months for the adopting households to 1.24 months for non-adopting households. The technology package initiated positive development pathways characterized by increased production and income, surplus grain production, investments in livelihood assets and yield-enhancing technologies and improved food security. This link from technology introduction to improved food security is very important from a development perspective, but there is a lack of research that clearly demonstrate this effect in the drylands of West Africa. Future interventions to ensure a more broad-based development should focus on continued investment in yield-enhancing technologies, diversification of production to ensure better access to high quality food, strengthening the role of women, and building institutions to support farmers' livelihood and agency.</p> </abstract>