Pearl Millet,Pennisetum glaucum(L.) R. Br.

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Teaching and Research Farm of Department of Crop Production, under Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, during 2010 and 2011 rainy season. Four pearl millet varieties: V1=SOSAT-C-88, V2=ZATIP, V3=LACRI-9702-IC and V4=EX-BORNO was intercropped with Groundnut (Var. Samnut -14), Soybean (Var.TGX -1830-2E), Cowpea (Var.IT89KD -288) and Bambaranut (Var. Damboa white) each with 1:1 alternate row arrangement. The results revealed that, plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of days to floweing were significantly higher for varieties ZATIP (V2) and EX-BORNO(V4) than SOSAT-C-88 (V1)or LACRI-9702-1C (V3). Single leaf area was higher for SOSAT-C-88 (V1) and) ZATIP (V2), while number of tillers per plant was higher for SOSAT-C-88 (V1) than the other varieties. Grain yield per plant -1 and harvest index (%) were significantly higher for SOSAT-C-88 (V1) and ZATIP (V2), while grain yield per ha -1 and 1000 grain weight (g) were significantly higher for SOSAT-C-88 (V1) than the other varieties. Grain yield per ha -1 was positively correlated with harvest index (%) (r = 0.76**), leaf area (r = 0.78**), grain yield/panicle (r = 0.85**) and number of panicles/plant (r = 0.92**). Grain yield of legumes was significantly greater when grown in association with SOSAT-C-88 (V1) or LACRI-9702-IC (V3) than ZATIP (V2) or EX-BORNO (V4). The variety SOSAT-C-88 (V1) + legume association had the highest relative competitive ability and grain yield advantage compared to the other intercrop combinations. The gross monetary returns were also highest for pearl millet variety SOSAT-C-88 and ZATIP grown in association with each of the legumes. Grain and fodder yields can be optimized by growing pearl millet variety SOSAT-C-88 in association with cowpea, groundnut, bambarranut or soybean, while monetary returns can be optimized by intercropping SOSAT-C-88 (V1) or ZATIP (V2) with any of the legumes in the Sudan savannah region.

Influence of extrusion conditions on the physical and nutritional properties of snacks from maize and pearl millet

“…This fact justifies the higher nutritional quality of pearl millet and maize grits snacks when compared with the traditional maize grits snacks that currently dominate the market. These results were expected and are in accordance with the literature (Dias-Martins et al, 2018;McSweeney et al, 2017;Sanjana Reddy, 2017).…”

“…Its protein fractions consist mainly of albumin and globulin, which have good digestibility. Other positive aspects of pearl millet are its high content of complex carbohydrates (starch), essential amino acids, dietary fiber, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which include linolenic acid (ω3) (McSweeney et al, 2016(McSweeney et al, , 2017Sanjana Reddy, 2017). They are also an alternative food for celiac and gluten-sensitive individuals (Dias- Martins et al, 2018).…”

A Review of C4 Plants in Southwest Asia: An Ecological, Geographical and Taxonomical Analysis of a Region With High Diversity of C4 Eudicots

“…The most important and most species rich group of C 4 crops are millets and millet-like cereals cultivated traditionally for their grain in arid areas of S Asia and Africa. Among them several major millet crops like sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) ( Sanjana Reddy, 2017a ), proso millet ( Panicum miliaceum ) ( Gomashe, 2017 ), foxtail millet ( Setaria italica ) ( Hariprasanna, 2017 ), and pearl millet ( Cenchrus americanus ) ( Sanjana Reddy, 2017b ) made it to fame out of their region of domestication and have been introduced not only to SW Asia but are extensively cultivated worldwide for their grains. Sweet sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) is also an alternative source of syrup and sugar ( Sanjana Reddy, 2017a ), although the main pantropical sugar crop remains the extensively cultivated sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum ) ( James, 2014 ).…”

Performance and Stability of Pearl Millet Varieties for Grain Yield and Micronutrients in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of India

“…The genetic heterogeneity of OPVs confers durable resistance to downy mildew, and a variation in flowering confers pollen-based escape from ergot and smut infection, which contrast well with frequent downy mildew epidemics and their greater vulnerability to ergot and smut. Consequently, improved pearl millet OPVs are readily acceptable to farmers and are easier to multiply, and hence have carved a niche for themselves even in India, where hybrids are the preferred cultivars (Sanjana Reddy, 2017). The genetic improvement of OPVs started in the 1930s and could not progress beyond a certain limit because of a narrow genetic base.…”