Evaluation of radiation use efficiency and its relationship with dry matter accumulation in three millet species

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

B Kamkar ¹

A Koocheki ²

M Nasiri mahalati ²

P Rezvani Moghaddam ²

¹ Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources & Agrotechnology Dept. Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

² Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

10.22067/gsc.v2i2.1255

Abstract

A factorial arrangement of three millets species (Panicum miliaceum, Pennisetum glaucum, and Setaria italica) and two sowing dates with three replications were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate the radiation use efficiency and its relationship with dry matter accumulation. Leaf area index was used in daily intervals to calculate daily intercepted radiation. Light extinction coefficient was calculated as the slope of regression line between log transformed fraction of intercepted radiation and leaf area index during growing season. Radiation use efficiency was calculated as the slope of linear regression between cumulative intercepted radiation and cumulative biomass during growing season. Results showed that light extinction coefficient and radiation use efficiency for proso, pearl and foxtail millets were 0.75, 0.66, 0.57 and 1.43, 1.83, 1.74 g/MJ in terms of total radiation, respectively. Differences in biomass production were not significant between proso and pearl millets. Proso millet had higher intercepted radiation, but lower radiation use efficiency in comparison with pearl millet. Foxtail millet had lower intercepted radiation than proso and pearl millets, but its radiation use efficiency was higher than pearl millet. Total biomass of foxtail millet was lower than other species. Results indicated that proso and pearl millets can produce more biomass than foxtail millet.

20.1001.1.20081472.1383.2.2.8.3

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