THERMAL REQUIREMENT FOR PEARL-MILLET CROP

A field experiment was conducted for five successive years on pearl mi llet (Pennisetum americanum) with different sowing dates to evaluate t he impact of thermal energy on growth and development of the crop. The accumulated heat units and number of days for various growth stages ( seedling emergence, first tiller, panicle initiation, ear emergence, f lowering initiation, 50% flowering and physiological maturity) decreas ed under delayed seeding. The variation in accumulated heat units and number of day required for various growth stages did not indicate any definite trend. The early crop received maximum thermal energy compare d to later seeded crop in all the years of experimentation.