SUITABILITY OF RAINY-SEASON CROPS FOR LATE-SOWN RAIN-FED CONDITIONS

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 1987-89 a t Duragapura to find out suitability of crops for late (August) sowing under rainfed conditions. The results varied with pattern of rainfall . The data showed stability of clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L .) Taubert] across the season irrespective of rainfall situation, as i t gave the maximum grain yield under late planting during all the 3 ye ars. Under low rainfall as in 1987 and under unevenly distributed rain fall as in 1989, pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. St untz] did not produce grain but yielded precious fodder, Under good ra infall as in 1988, pearlmillet was the most useful and productive crop . Late sowing in August reduced the yield drastically.