Three-Way Top-Cross Hybrids to Enhance Production of Forage with Improved Quality in Pearl Millet ( Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)

Shashi Kumar Gupta (), Ponnaiah Govintharaj and Ruchika Bhardwaj
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Shashi Kumar Gupta: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502324, India
Ponnaiah Govintharaj: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502324, India
Ruchika Bhardwaj: Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, India

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-13

Abstract: Three-way top-cross hybrids of pearl millet were evaluated along with a popular single- cross check hybrid (PAC 981) for forage yield and quality traits under a multi-cut (three cuts) system across multiple years, seasons and sites in India. Total green forage yield (TGFY) varied from 36 to 53 t ha −1 , and two hybrids outyielded the check hybrid for both total dry forage yield (TDFY) and forage quality (CP; Crude protein, and IVOMD; In vitro organic matter digestibility) traits. A set of promising three-way top-cross hybrids evaluated along with a set of promising open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and top-cross hybrids for forage-related traits over two years under a multi-cut system revealed that the mean TDFY of three-way top-cross hybrids was higher than the mean TDFY of top-cross hybrids, followed by OPVs. Also, three-way top-cross hybrids had higher/or at par forage quality traits such as CP and IVOMD in comparison to other types of cultivars. TDFY had no correlation with CP and IVOMD across cuts in three-way top-cross hybrids, indicating that forage quantity and quality traits can be improved independently of each other. Overall, three-way top-cross hybrids were found to be a better pearl millet cultivar option than other types of cultivars.

Keywords: open-pollinated varieties; top-cross hybrids; three-way top-cross hybrids; forage yield; forage quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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