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Deciphering Yield Sustainability of High Yielding Pearl Millet Varieties in Arid Environment

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Abstract

Pearl-millet yield in arid zone vary from being < 9 to > 4 times of long-term average yield due to variations in rainfall. Thus, it is difficult to assess sustainable yield levels and manure and/or urea needed to sustain them. A long-term field experiment (1993–2013) was conducted and results were statistically inferred for above purpose. 80% variation in annual grain yield could statistically be attributed to rainfall and 10% to manure/urea and even this response was not significant in all the years. 20 kg urea-N significantly increased grain yield in five out of 21 years whereas 5 ton manure + 40 kg urea-N increased it in 17 years. Grain yield of pearl-millet cultivated without any manure/urea-N decreased at the rate of 44.9 kg ha−1 year−1. 20 and 40 kg urea-N ha−1 and 2.5 ton manure retarded this decline however 2.5 tons of manure + 20 kg urea-N, reversed this trend. 5.0 ton manure + 40 kg urea-N ha−1 increased grain yield by 33.3 kg ha−1 year−1 and maximum grain production over 21 years was also recorded in this treatment. 2.5 ton manure + 20 kg urea-N ha−1 was selected to provide highest food security. This is also supported by sustainable yield index.

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Acknowledgements

The funding was supported by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (CAZRI-T-03-64).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Integrated Land Use Management and Farming Systems, ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, 342 003, India

    Anurag Saxena,  Praveen-Kumar & N. L. Joshi

  2. Division of Natural Resources and Environment, ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, 342 003, India

    D. V. Singh & N. R. Panwar

Authors
  1. Anurag Saxena
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  2. Praveen-Kumar
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  3. D. V. Singh
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  4. N. R. Panwar
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  5. N. L. Joshi
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Correspondence to N. R. Panwar.

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Saxena, A., Praveen-Kumar, Singh, D.V. et al. Deciphering Yield Sustainability of High Yielding Pearl Millet Varieties in Arid Environment. Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett. 41, 75–79 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-018-0623-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-018-0623-4

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