Abstract:
Pearl millet (Pennisetum
glaucum) is considered an important kharif
crop, which is grown extensively in the
arid and semi-arid tropical regions, where
other crops, like sorghum and maize, fail to
produce economic yields. Its grains are
valued as human food, while its dry stover
makes significant livestock ration in croplivestock
farming system. Pearl millets
(MB-87), a newly developed variety of
Fodder Research Institute, Sargodha,
Pakistan, is one of the best pearl millet
variety, which gives more than one cutting
and helps to cope with fodder lean period,
as well as more income can be generated in
addition to seed. So, overcome the scarcity
period the study was conducted to check the
effect of last cutting dates on seed
production of multicut pearl millet MB-87
was conducted at Fodder Research Institute,
Sargodha, Pakistan, during 2015 and 2016.
Following parameters were taken in to
consideration, i.e. plant height (cm), stem
thickness (cm), number of leaves per tiller,
number of tillers per plant, green fodder
yield (t/ha), length of head (cm), 1000
grains weight (g) and grain yield (kg/ha).
The results depicted that grain yield, i.e.
319.20, was maximum and head length was
highest, i.e. 35.13 cm on 20th of August
having last date of cut, whereas all others
parameters were found to be nonsignificant.
Multicut bajra gives three
cutting of fodder, followed by seed, as
compared with conventional bajra, which
gives only one cutting or seed. Therefore, it
is more economical for the growers of
fodders to grow the pearl millets MB-87 as
fodder, as well as for seed purposes. So, it is
concluded that for gaining maximum grain
yield of multicut pearl millet MB-87 the last
cutting date should be 20th of August. In
future, pearl millet is likely to play a larger
role in providing food and nutritional
security.
