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EFFECTS OF DROUGHT ON GROWTH, DEVELOMPENT, RADIATION USE EFFICIENCY AND YIELD OF FINGER MILLET (ELEUCINE CORACANA)

MUHAMMAD MAQSOOD AND *S.N. AZAM ALI

Abstract: Two finger millet landraces were grown in glasshouses under two moisture regimes (fully irrigated and subjected to drought) to investigate the effects of environmental stress on the growth, development, radiation use efficiency and yield of finger millet (Eleucine coracana), in two landraces viz., TZA-01 and TZM-01. The drought treatment was imposed at 28 DAS beyond which no irrigation was applied to the droughted treatment. Growth and development were monitored between 21 DAS and 105 DAS. Soil moisture had an effect on the growth of both the landraces. Drought reduced leaf area, dry matter accumulation, seed weight, radiation use efficiency and yield of finger millet. Drought significantly reduced the number of leaves per plant, leaf area per plant from 42 DAS to 105 DAS. Drought had significant (p<0.009) effect on grain yield of two finger millet landraces. The maximum grain yield (4.88 t ha^-1) was recorded under irrigated TZA-01 followed by irrigated TZM-01, where (3.22 t ha^-1) grain yield was recorded. The minimum grain yield (1.92 t ha^-1) was recorded in droughted TZM-01. Biomass was affected significantly (p<0.028) by drought. Maximum radiation use efficiency was recorded as 3.11g MJ^-1 of the accumulated intercepted radiation.
 

Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
* School of Biosciences, Division of Agricultural Sciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham,Loughborough, Leicestershire , LE 12 5 RD UK.
Corresponding author E-mail: drmaqsoodbajwa@yahoo.co.in