Materials and Methods
The experiment was conducted for three seasons (1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001) at El Fasher Research Station on sandy soil under rainfed conditions.
Ten guar varieties were tested in this experiment. Sowing was done on 23 July, 22 July and 16 July for the three years respectively. Each genotype was planted in 6 rows of 6-meter length and spacing of 60 cm between rows and 15 cm between plant holes. The plants were thinned to one plant per hole after two weeks from sowing. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Data were recorded from the central four rows of each plot.
Average monthly rainfalls, during the growing periods, are presented in Table1. In general, most of rainfall was received in July and August. The total annual rainfalls were 332.5, 291.6 and 146.2 mm for the years 1998, 1999, and 2000, respectively.
Results
Seed yield
Although there were variations in seed yields, differences among the guar varieties were not statistically significant due to high coefficient of variability in each of three seasons (Table 2). Seed yield was very low in the third season compared to the previous tow seasons due to low rainfall during this growing season (Table 1 and 4). The highest overall mean seed yield of the three seasons was produced by HFG-182 (951 kg/ha). The mean differences among the three seasons were statistically significant (Table 4).
Hay yield
Differences among the guar varieties in hay yield were not statistically significant in spite of large variations due to high coefficient of variability in each of the three seasons (Table 2). However, genotype HFG-182 produced the highest mean hay yield (1674 kg/ha), while RGC-192 produced the lowest mean yield (1149 kg/ha) of the three seasons (Table 2). The mean differences among the three seasons were statistically significant (Table 4).
Days to maturity
Genotype differences for days to maturity were not significant in each of the three seasons (Table 2). However, seasons had significant effect on it, which ranged between 73-89 days (Table 3).
Plant height
Plant height variations were not statistically significant in each of the three growing seasons (Table 3). However, seasonal effects were statistically significant (Table 4).
Discussion
The guar cultivars tested under rainfed semiarid region of Darfur showed high adaptability to the region compared to the other crops. The overall means of the seed yields across the three seasons was 871 kg/ha, but they varied from year to another due to fluctuation in rainfall. In the first two seasons the yields were high (1036-1088 kg/ha) compared to the third season (490 kg/ha) due to drought stress. Variety HFG-182 produced the highest mean yield across the three seasons (951 kg/ha). These guar varieties were tested earlier under rainfed conditions at El Obeid Research Station and found that variety DPS produced the highest yield (219 kg/ha) while the mean of all genotypes was 134 kg/ha (Abuelgasim, 1985). In addition, the mean yield of 2000/2001 growing season (490 kg/ha) was higher than that produced at Abu Naama (372 kg/ha) in the same season (Loggale, 2001). Under the prevailing rainfed conditions, millet produced very low mean yields (224, 118 and 219 kg/ha for the three seasons respectively), while guar produced good seed yields (1036, 1088 and 490 kg/ha for the three seasons respectively). In addition, during extremely dry season (2000/2001), guar growth did not show severe symptoms of drought stress and remained green most of the time, although its growth and yield were lower than that of the normal conditions. Therefore, guar is a promising crop for this dry environment. However, its acceptability, utilization and marketing are to be determined.
Recommendation
Based on the yield of guar compared to the other crops under limited rainfall and absence of economic damages by pests and diseases, guar is proposed as a new cash/fodder crop in Darfur semiarid region under rainfed conditions to increase diversification of mono-cropping millet and improve soil fertility.
References
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Abuelgasim. E. H. (1985). Guar Variety Trial. 1985-85 Annual Report, El Obeid Research Station, ARC.
Loggale, L. B. (2001). Response of Guar to Plant Spacing and Number of Plants/Hole. 2000/2001 Annual Report, Food Legume Program, Kenana Research Station Abu Naama, ARC
Osman, M. E. (2005). Performance of Guar as a New Crop under Flood Irrigation in Gash Dulta. In: El-Siddig, K. (ed.). Proceedings of The 37th and 38th Meetings of the National Crop Husbandry Committee. Pp.73-76
Rao, A. V., Tarafdar, J. C.,Sharma, S. K., Kumar, P. and Aggarwal, R. K. (1995). Influence of Cropping Systems on Soil Biochemical Properties in an Arid Rain-fed Environment. Journal of Arid Environment, 31: 237-244.
Undersander, D. J., Putnam, D. H., Kaminski, A. R., Kelling, K. A., Doll, J. D., Oplinger, E. S. and Gunsolus, J. L.. (2006). Guar. Alternative Field Crops Manual, University of Wisconsin-Madison. www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ afem/guar.html
Table 1. Rainfall data at El Fasher Research Station during 1998-2000 growing seasons.
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Table 2. Mean seed yield (kg/ha) and hay yield (kg/ha) of guar evaluated under semiarid region of western
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Table 3. Mean number of days to maturity and plant height of guar evaluated under semiarid region of western Sudan for the growing seasons 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001
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Table 4. Seasonal effects on seed yield, straw yield, number of days to maturity and plant height of guar varieties evaluated under semiarid region of
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