Agronomic Response of Kodo Millet to Time of Planting and Variety under Northern Punjab, India

The field investigation was cried out to evaluate the effect of different sowing dates and varieties on growth and yield attributes of Kodo millet. The three varieties of kodo millet were sown on six sowing dates (S1 to S6) to access the optimal time of sowing of kodo millet in Punjab. The results revealed that early sowing significantly enhanced plant height, number of tillers, and the duration to flowering and physiological maturity, contributing to improved grain and biological yields. The sowing date S2 recorded the maximum grain yield (11.05 q/acre), while delayed sowing (S6) led to reduced growth and yield performance. Among the varieties, V3 exhibited superior agronomic traits and the highest productivity, with a grain yield of 10.81 q/acre. The observed variation among varieties and sowing dates was statistically significant, except for their interaction, that was non-significant for all measured parameters. The study highlights the importance of optimizing sowing time and varietal selection for improving the growth and yield potential of Kodo millet under prevailing agro-climatic conditions of Punjab.