Development of high yielding millet variety "Sargodha Bajra-2011" released for general cultivation in Punjab Province of Pakistan.

Development of superior crop cultivars is ultimate goal of plant breeders. New variety of pearl millet "Sargodha Bajra-2011" was evolved at Fodder Research Institute Sargodha. After obtaining a uniform type of plants, the new variety was evaluated. On the basis of its high green fodder yield, the new variety was tested in Station Yield Trials (SYT) during 2003, 2004 and 2005. Simultaneously: it was also evaluated in different ecological zones throughout the Punjab during the years 2005. It was evaluated in Notational Uniform Fodder Yield Trials (NUFYT) during the years 2004, 2005 and 2006. In SYT, it produced fodder yield of 35.09-66.82 t ha-1 and out yielded the check i.e. 18-BY. In zonal testing, the data reflected that this variety out yielded all the lines/varieties and the standard check variety "18-BY" producing an average green fodder yield of 60.67 t ha-1 against 52.66 t ha-1 produced by the check variety 18-BY. On the basis of weighted average of three years, Sargodha Bajra-2011 yielded 43.7-51.3 t ha-1 green fodder yields against the check variety which yielded 39.9-47.8 t ha-1. Plant height of the new variety is 260 cm; number of leaves per main tiller are 14; leaf color is green; leaf area is 334.3 cm2 and stem thickness is 1.4 cm. It has an erect growth habit. It has better palatability and digestibility. The fodder contains 5.67% crude protein, 38.98% dry matter, 27.07 crude fibre and 3.3% ether extract. Its agronomic studies were done during 2005-09. Its DUS study was conducted in 2008-2009. This variety gives best yield when planted on 15th July at 30 cm apart rows supplied with 80-60 kg NP ha-1 and irrigation applied at 14 days interval