Evaluation of Advanced Entries/ Varieties of Finger Millet in Tripura
Debashree Saha
College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India
Anandika Kar*
College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India
Niladri Paul
College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India
Utpal Giri
College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54083/IF/9.1.2024/07-09
Keywords: Advanced varieties, Eleusine coracana, Finger millet, KOPN 942, Productivity, Tripura
Abstract
Eleusine coracana, commonly known as finger millet or ragi in India, ranks sixth among grains, behind rice, bajra, sorghum, wheat and maize. After foxtail millet, sorghum and pearl millet, it is regarded as the most significant millet in the world. Consumed in significant amounts in the region, millet flour has been attributed the highest nutritional quality among coarser cereals. They are also an abundant source of dietary fibres (18%), calcium (344 mg per 100 g), polyphenols (0.3-3%) and bioactive compounds such as tannin (0.04-3.47), phyate (0.48%), oxalate (0.27%), cyanide (0.17%) and saponin (0.36%). Also, it supplies necessary amino acids (methionine, leucine, phenylalanine and isoleucine), minerals (iron, phosphorus and calcium) and vitamins, including B-complex (1.71 mg) and E (22 mg). Finger millet seems to be the most crucial small millet in India, both because of its ability to tolerate low water availability (rainfall <500 mm annum-1) and its dual use as food and fodder. It is one of the small millets that have high nutritional quality with proteins (6-13%), minerals (2.5-3.5%) such as thiamine and riboflavin among other important nutrients. Although there is limited research on finger millet in Tripura, agro-climatic conditions are suitable for this crop.
To explore its potential, an advanced varietal trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications, evaluating 10 entries: BR-14-3, KOPN 942, VL 387, VR 1101, OEB 602, GPU 45, VL 352, GPU 67 and PR 202. Among these, KOPN 942 exhibited superior performance with the highest plant height (103.89 cm), maximum number of effective tillers (5.63), dry fodder yield (19 kg ha-1) and grain yield (2,080 kg ha-1). Based on these findings, KOPN 942 is recommended for adoption by farmers to enhance cropping systems and productivity.
Downloads
not found
Reference
Banarjee, A., Mondol, K., 2023. Foxtail millet, the crop of the future and the possibilities of including it in the ICDS: A micro level study in Tripura. Agroeconomia Croatica 13(2), 4-16. URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/319277.
Giri, U., Saha, A., Biswas, S., Nath, R., Maity, T.K., 2021. Performance of lentil (Lens culinars Medik. subsp. culinaris) varieties/lines in uplands of Tripura. Biological Forum - An International Journal 13(3b), 210-214.
Gomez, K.A., Gomez, A.A., 1984. Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research, 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York. p. 680.