Yield Maximization Of Pearl Millet In Selected Semi Arid Tropics Of Southern India For The Changing Climate

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, newlineMadurai, Tamil Nadu during kharif and rabi seasons of 2017-2018 to find out the newlineappropriate sowing window and nitrogen dosage for improving yield of pearl millet newlineunder semi-arid conditions and to predict the productivity of pearl millet for current and newlinefuture climatic conditions by assessing the climate variability and the impact of climate newlinechange on growth and productivity using DSSAT model. newlineThe field experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design newline(FRBD) with two pearl millet varieties (CO (Cu) 10 and ABV 04) comprising of three newlinedates of sowing each in respective seasons; II FN of June (D1), I FN of July (D2) and II newlineFN of July (D3) during kharif season; II FN of September (D1), I FN of October (D2) newlineand II FN of October (D3) during rabi season as first factor and three nitrogen levels; newlineRDN (N1), 75% RDN (N2) and 125% RDN (N3) as second factor treatments replicated newlinethrice. The results obtained from the field trial were used to calibrate and validate the newlinedynamic crop simulation model DSSAT-CROPGRO for predicting growth and yield of newlinepearl millet crop. newlineThe studies on climate variability of selected locations reveals that the mean newlineannual and seasonal temperature and rainfall exhibited marked variation in year to year newlinein both locations of study area. Among the four seasons, the SWM season showed the newlinegreater variations in maximum and minimum temperature while the rainfall at NEM in newlineMadurai region and SWM of Ananthapur region exhibited maximum variability in newlineintensity and distribution. newlineIt was found from the present study that growth attributes viz., plant height, newlinenumber of tillers, LAI, DMP and the yield attributes such as number of productive newlinetillers, ear head length, ear head girth, number of grains per ear head, test weight, grain newlineand stover yields were higher in sowing windows of I FN of July (D2) during kharif newlineseason and II FN of October (D3) during rabi season coupled with 125% RDN (N3) newline(2451 and 2469 2616 kg ha-1 in CO (Cu