EFFECT OF INTER- AND INTRA-ROW SPACINGS OF PEARL MILLET (PENNISETUM GLAUCUM (L) R.BR) INFECTED WITH DOWNY MILDEW (SCLEROSPORA GRAMINICOLA (SACC) SCHROET ON GRAIN WEIGHT IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA
B. Ramya Sree
Department of Biotechnology, Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College, Tirupati
Jyothi M. Joy
Department of Pharmacognosy, Sree Vidyanikethan College of Pharmacy, Tirupati
Field trials were carried out at the Teaching and Research farm of Kano University of Science of Technology, Wudil with two pearl millet varieties in 2003, 2004 and 2005 rain seasons to investigate the effect of inter- and intra-row spacings of pearl millet infected with downy mildew on grain weight in Kano State, Nigeria. The experimental materials consist of factorial combinations of two varieties (SOSAT C88 and Zango), three inter-row spacings (50, 75 and 100cm) and four intra-row spacings (15, 30, 45 and 60cm). The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data collected on grain weight were subjected to analysis of variance and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used for the separation of means at 1% and 5% levels of significance. Result shows that SOSAT C88 had significantly (P≤0.05 and P≤0.01) gave the heaviest grains than Zango pearl millet variety in 2003 and 2004 respectively while no significant difference among varieties in 2005. Millet varieties spaced out at 75cm inter-row had the heaviest grains than when spaced at either 50 or 100cm inter-row spacings which significantly (P≤0.01) produced pearl millets with lighter grains. Moreover, varieties planted at 30 and 60cm respectively had significantly (P≤0.01) heavier grains than those intra-spaced at 15 and 45cm which had the lighter grain weight. Interaction shows that pearl millet varieties spaced out at 75 x 30cm and 75 x 60cm had significantly (P≤0.01) bore the heaviest grains than those planted in other spacings which gave the lightest grains. It is however, recommended to grow SOSAT C88 pearl millet variety as well as use 75cm inter-row and 30 or 60cm intra-row spacings respectively for heavier grains than wider or shorter spacings which resulted in having lighter grains.
4 , 1 , 2014
46 - 50