A NEW SPECIES OF BARNYARD MILLET (ECHINOCHLOA CRUSGALLI SPP. UTILIS) FOUND SUITABLE FOR THE GARHWAL HILLS

Abstract

Heterogeneity of environments and exposure to low temperature at higher elevations in hills cause economic losses in both grain and fodder yield of barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) cultivars at Garhwal in V.P. Relative advantage to temperature acclimation were assessed among a set of germplasm lines collected from ICRISAT, India and V.A.S., Bangalore for grain and fodder production. Three lines showed superiority in grain and fodder production at higher altitudes (2100 m and above) over the local cultivars. Information received from ICRISAT revealed that these three lines belonged to a separate species Echinochloa crusga/li ssp. utilis and originated in Japan.