Evaluation of finger millet varieties under rainfed region of Eastern India

Evaluation of finger millet varieties under rainfed region of South Bihar

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out during kharif  2013 and 2014 to evaluate yield potential, economics and thermal utilization in eleven finger millet varieties under rainfed condition of sub-humid environment of South Bihar. Significantly higher grain yield (21.65 q/ha), net return (Rs 28287) and B:C ratio 1.69 were in variety ‘GPU 67’ but was at par to ‘RAU-8’ and both were significantly superior over remaining varieties. At 50 % anthesis stage the highest heat units (1526.9 ^oC day), heliothermal units (7428.2  ^oC day hours), phenothermal index (19.4 ^oC days day^-1) were observed  in variety ‘GPU 67’ followed by ‘RAU 8’ and ‘GPU 28’ and lowest in ‘VL 149’. At maturity stage the highest growing degree days (2051.6 ^oC day), heliothermal units (10765.1 ^oC day hours) were in variety ‘GPU 67’ followed by ‘RAU 8’ and ‘GPU 28’ and lowest in ‘VL 149’. The highest heat use efficiency (1.06 kg ha^{-1 o}C day) and Helio-thermal use efficiency (0.20 kg ha^{-1 o}C day hour) were in ‘GPU 67’ followed by ‘GPU 45’ and ‘VL 315’.