Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Brown top millet (Brachiaria ramosa L.) is an underutilized, climate resilient cereal with considerable potential for enhancing food, nutritional, and fodder security in rainfed production systems. However, information on the performance of improved genotypes under the rainfed upland ecology of the Bastar Plateau of central India remains limited. The present study evaluated eight advanced genotypes and one local check during Kharif 2025 at Shaheed Gundadhur College of Agriculture and Research Station, Jagdalpur, using a randomized block design with three replications under natural rainfall conditions. Significant (P < 0.05) genotypic differences were observed for phenological, morphological, and productivity related traits, indicating substantial genetic variability for selection. Days to 50% flowering ranged from 57 to 59 days, while maturity varied from 88 to 90 days. Grain yield ranged from 910 to 1418 kg ha^¹, and fodder yield from 3704 to 4660 kg ha¹. TNBr 018 recorded the highest grain yield (1418 kg ha^¹), representing a 48.3% yield advantage over the local check, whereas TNBr 017 produced the highest fodder yield (4660 kg ha^¹) while maintaining high grain productivity (1356 kg ha^¹). The favourable seasonal rainfall (1476.1 mm over 68 rainy days) enabled reliable assessment of genotype performance under representative rainfed conditions. Based on overall agronomic performance, TNBr 018 was identified as the most promising genotype for grain production, whereas TNBr 017 showed superior dual-purpose potential. These genotypes warrant further multi location evaluation and may serve as valuable genetic resources for developing climate resilient brown top millet cultivars for rainfed agroecosystems.