Effect of planting patterns on yield and WUE of Pearlmillet

Pearlmillet is a widely grown rainfed cereal crop in the arid and semiarid regions of Africa and southern Asia. The production of crop is the important factor for selection of new technology by the farmers.Therefore, the pearlmillet was planted in three new planting methods, which consisted of ridge, bed and one was conventional planting method (broadcast). The yield and its components were significantly affected by different planting methods. The physiological growth and productivity of pearlmillet were observed highest under ridge method. The three new planting methods (ridge, bed, seed drill) tested here also significantly improved the quality of grain as well as millet stover. The ridge was found significantly better over rest of the planting patterns so far as WUE of pearlmillet grain is concerned. It is evident that the maximum benefit: cost ratio 2.20 was recorded for ridge. The poorest performance of pearlmillet was recorded under broadcast planting system. We recommend ridge method of planting for SAT region of India, to mitigate the effect of drought stress and crop failure as well as improved the production and per unit return of pearlmillet.