The Effects of Drought on Early Growth and Dry Matter Accumulation of Various Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana) Cultivars
- Author
- Muchemwa , Persistence. S
- Title
- The Effects of Drought on Early Growth and Dry Matter Accumulation of Various Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana) Cultivars
- Abstract
- Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is a C4 crop that originated in the tropics and has thrived in harsh environments. Its drought tolerance and diverse applications have increased its production. However, finger millet is susceptible to drought during early growth stages, thus necessitating an assessment of its physiological and metabolic tolerance to drought and high temperatures. In this study, the drought resistance of three finger millet cultivars, FMV1, FMV2, and FMV3, was evaluated using a pot experiment with different water levels (600mm, 450mm, 300mm, and 150mm). The experiment was designed using a randomized complete block design (RCBD), and changes in plant height, biomass accumulation, and chlorophyll content were measured at various water levels. The results showed that FMV1 was more drought-resistant than the other two cultivars, and drought levels significantly impacted biomass accumulation (p = 0.001). FMV3 had reduced biomass accumulation, while FMV2 had decreased chlorophyll accumulation under drought conditions. FMV1 performed relatively better than the other cultivars under drought conditions. Therefore, farmers in drought-prone areas are encouraged to use FMV1 to promote growth and ultimately survival of the crop.
- Date
- 2023
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Drought
- Supervisor
- N/A
- Item sets
- Department of Crop Sciences
- Media
-
Muchemwa - Crop.pdf