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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

Evaluation of guar as a proposed new crop for rainfed semiarid regions of western Sudan

Mohamed I. Ismail El Hag H. Abuelgasim

Abstract:

A set of guar varieties was tested for three seasons (1998-99, 1999-02 and 2000-01) at El Fasher Research Station, under rain-fed conditions. This study was intended to evaluate the adaptability of this crop to the agro-ecological environment of the semiarid Darfur region. The average seed yield of all guar varieties in the three seasons were 1036, 1088 and 490 kg/ha respectively, while the overall average across the three seasons was 871 kg/ha. Although variations in yield were not statistically significant, some varieties were superior (e.g. HFG-182) and produced good yield (951 kg/ha) across seasons. On the other hand, the effect of three inter-row spacing (40, 60 and 90 cm), three intra-row spacing (20, 30 and 40 cm) and three plant population levels (1, 2 and 3 plants per hole) on yield and some agronomic traits of guar were studied in a separate experiment in the same location during season 1999-00, 2000-01 and 2001-02. Significant differences in seed and hay yields among the three seasons were observed. This was mainly attributed to the variations in rainfall during the growing seasons. Seed and hay yields increased with decreasing inter-row and intra-row spacing. However, days to maturity and plant height showed opposite trend. The maximum seed and hay yields were obtained at 40 cm inter-row spacing, 20 cm intra-row spacing and 3 plants per hole. Significant effects of intra-row spacing, inter-row spacing and plants per hole on seed and hay yields suggest the use of closer inter-row and intra-row spacing with 2-3 plants per hole to obtain higher yields under semiarid regions. In general, guar yield in both experiments were higher than that of other crops under the same prevailing environmental conditions. Therefore, this crop could be suggested to be one of the new food/feed crops in the region.

 

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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 8 (2007) PP. 133-139