Evaluation of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Performance Under Different Planting Methods at Vindhyan Region of India

摘要

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) is in the top four of cereals grown in the tropics for human food. The experiment was evaluated during the 2009 kharif (June to October) season in the Vindhyan Region of part of Uttar Pradesh State in India. The treatment comprised of four planting methods (ridge, bed, seed drill, broadcast). The broadcast method served as the control. The objectives were to investigate the effects of planting methods on plant growth, grain yield and quality and the economics of pearl millet during the raining season. The pearl millet growth as well as grain yield were better with ridge, bed and seed drill than broadcast. The maximum grain yield was obtained with ridge planting method. The three new planting methods (ridge, bed, seed drill) tested here also significantly improved the quality of grain as well as millet stover. The maximum cost: benefit ratio was with ridge planting method, followed by bed planting method and then seed drill planting method. This indicates that improved planting methods improved the economics of millet production in an arid zone of India.