Performance of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) genotypes to sowing dates in Southern transition zone of Karnataka

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif seasons of 2016 and 2017 at University of Agricultural and Horticultural Science, Shivamogga to study the response of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) varieties to different dates of sowing. Among different varieties SIA 2644, recorded significantly maximum plant height (109.81 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (45.69), leaf area (701.14 plant cm-2), grain yield (1870.90 kg ha-1), straw yield (3980.71 kg ha-1) and harvest index (0.32) as compared to other varieties like HMT-1 and Local. Among different dates of sowing crop sown on June 30 found significantly higher plant height (114.63), number of leaves plant-1 (49.38), leaf area (738.95 plant cm-2), grain yield (2049.25 kg ha-1), straw yield (4261.56 kg ha-1) and harvest index (0.33) as compared to July 30 and August 30 dates of sowing. The interaction between the sowing dates and varieties not significant.