Influence of time of harvest on grain yield of Acha, digitaria exilis and farmers' perspectives

Abstract

One of the reasons for low grain yield in crop is the in-appropriate timing of harvest period. Harvesting Acha at physiological maturity will not allow some of the grains to easily detach during threshing, resulting in obtaining lower grain yield. Similarly delaying harvesting to 2–3 weeks after physiological maturity reduce grain yield as some of the grains have started to detach from the panicle at slight impact of the wind or walking within the field. Harvesting Acha crop at one week after physiological maturity is recommended according to the result of the experiment carried out in 2002 and 2003 at the experimental site of National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria. Although most farmers harvest their Acha crop very late, they are willing to participate in the On-farm technology transfer on harvest period experiment.

Keywords: harvest period, Acha, farmers' perspective

International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 6 2005: 132-135