Alternate Furrow Irrigation Effect on Yield, Yield Components and Seed Germination of Foxtail Millet (Setaria Italica) In Double Cropping System

ABSTRACT: A field and a laboratory experiments were conducted in 2008 to determine the effect of irrigation treatments on yield, yield components and seed germination of foxtail millet (Setaria italica). Conventional furrow irrigation (M1) and alternate furrow irrigation (M2) methods and different deficit irrigation levels including 100, 85, 70 and 55% of crop water requirement (V1, V2, V3 and V4) made the treatments. Seeds of the field experiment were used for the laboratory experiment. In the laboratory experiment, germination traits of seed produced from maternal plant under irrigation treatments were tested. Results showed that irrigation treatments had a significant effect on peduncle length, leaf and stem weight, panicle weight, seed yield, biological yield and seed germination rate. M1V1 had higher seed yield than M2V3 and M1V4. M2V4 had the lowest seed germination rate except compared to M1V3 and M1V2. Overall, it is concluded that water stress and irrigation methods had minor effect on seed yield, yield components and seed germination. It was found that foxtail millet was drought-resistant.