Effect of Nutrient Management and Mulching on Growth Parameters, Yield Attributes and Yield of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. Emend Stuntz] in Western Region of India

Aim: To assessed the effect of nutrient management and mulching on growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of pearl millet. Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive year 2021 and 2022 at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan).

Study Design and Methodology: The 16 treatment combinations consist different nutrients and mulching sources with replicated four times and laid out in split plot design. Various plant growth parameters, yield attributes and yield were recorded with standard procedures.

Results: Results showed that Mustard straw mulch @ 2.5 t/ha gave significantly higher growth parameters (plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant and chlorophyll content), yield attributes (number of effective tillers per metre row length, ear head length, ear head diameter, weight of grains per ear and number of grains per ear) leading to increased grain yield (1930 kg/ha), stover yield (3748 kg/ha) and biological yield (5678 kg/ha) over control on pooled data basis. Results showed that Liquid Azospirillium gave significantly higher growth parameters (plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant and chlorophyll content), yield attributes (number of effective tillers per metre row length, ear head length, ear head diameter, weight of grains per ear and number of grains per ear) leading to increased grain yield (1954 kg/ha), stover yield (3742 kg/ha) and biological yield (5697 kg/ha) over control on pooled data basis. Results further indicated that among nitrogen management practices 50% RDN through urea + 0.2% foliar spray of nano urea at 30 DAS proved significantly superior for growth parameters (plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant and chlorophyll content), yield attributes (number of effective tillers per metre row length, ear head length, ear head diameter, weight of grains per ear, number of grains per ear and test weight) and grain yield (1919 kg/ha), stover yield (3742 kg/ha), biological yield (5661 kg/ha) over control and remained at par with treatment RDN through urea and 0.2% foliar spray of nano urea on mean pooled data basis. Among all the treatments, 50% RDN through urea + 0.2% foliar spray of nano urea at 30 DAS, Mustard straw mulch @ 2.5 t/ha and Liquid Azospirillium are fond best with respect to growth parameters, yield attributes and yield.