Study of green fodder yield potential of pearl millet genotypes under rainfed conditions of Gujarat, India

Twenty three fodder pearl millet genotypes including two checks viz., DFMH 30 and PAC 981 were evaluated at Pearl millet Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU), Jamnagar and Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari during kharif 2014. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for days to 50 % flowering, days to maturity, plant height, dry fodder yield and green fodder yield while differences for plant population and grain yield were non significant. The locations differences were found significant for all the characters studied. The genotypes x locations differences were observed non significant for all the traits except plant population and grain yield. Days to 50 % flowering varied from 52 days (DFMH 30) to 77 days (IP 15564). Days to maturity ranged between 75 days (IP 2761) to 96 days (IP 14542). IP 22269 (342 cm) was observed the tallest genotype, while, check DFMH 30 (252 cm) was manifested the shortest genotype. Dry fodder yield ranged from 96 q/ha (IP 5153, IP 2761) to 208 q/ha (ICMV 05222). The genotype ICMV 05222 (390 q/ha) produced the highest green fodder yield among all the genotypes followed by IP 6202 (348 q/ha) and IP 15564 (341 q/ha). Hence, these three genotypes viz., ICMV 05222, IP 6202 and IP 15564 may be considered for general cultivation under rainfed conditions of Gujarat.