Assessment of Finger Millet Genotypes for Yield and Productivity under Rainfed Conditions in South Eastern Ghat Zone of Odisha

Abstract

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) commonly known as ragi is an important nutrient rich and climate resilient crop used for food, forage and industrial products. Finger millet has a wide ecological and geographical adaptability and resilience to various agro-climatic adversities hence, it is highly suited to drought condition and marginal land and requires low external input in cultivation.  A field experiment was conducted in kharif 2021at Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri district which comes under South Eastern Ghat Zone of Odisha Odisha. A field experiment was done by Odisha Millet Mission and monitored by KVK. Malkangiri to evaluate the suitable finger millet genotypes for this agro climatic zone region, comprising 20 genotypes of national, state check and traditional varieties. This Multi location trial (MLT) was conducted at Center for Agro ecology of Chitrakonda block, Malkangiri district, Odisha in Govt.Horticulture Farm. The final seed yield was recorded at the time of harvest and the results from the experiment conclusively proved that finger millet genotype  “PR-202”( National check) matured just  in 119 days  and produced the highest grain yield of  ( 11.6 q ha^-1)  followed  by  the genotype ‘’Bharati-T” (local ) matured just in 128 days produced second highest grain yield ( 11.2 q ha^-1)    and “GPU-28” (National check) matured just in 119 days produced third highest grain yield ( 11.04 q ha^-1). Finger millet genotypes PR-202, Bharati-T, GPU-28 with proper nutrient management and plant protection measures gave higher yield over other genotypes. Hence the finger millet   genotypes can be recommended as it was best suitable genotypes, since it fits good to the existing rainfed farming situation for higher productivity.