Pearl millet is a major cereal crop of the semi-arid regions; however, its productivity is constrained by low nitrogen-use efficiency, suboptimal plant geometry, and poor soil fertility. Therefore, optimising nitrogen scheduling, plant geometry, and biofertilizer inoculation is essential to enhance productivity, nutrient uptake, soil health, and profitability under semi-arid conditions. An experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024 at Rohtak, Haryana, India, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen scheduling, plant geometry, and microbial inoculation on yield, nutrient uptake, soil health, and economics of pearl millet. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications comprising three nitrogen scheduling treatments, two plant geometries, and three microbial inoculation treatments. Results revealed that application of nitrogen in three splits significantly improved grain yield, grain nitrogen uptake, protein content, and post-harvest soil available nitrogen compared to a single basal application. Wider spacing of 60 × 15 cm recorded higher grain yield and net returns over closer spacing. Combined inoculation with Azospirillum + phosphate-solubilising bacteria + arbuscular mycorrhiza significantly enhanced microbial biomass carbon, nutrient uptake, and grain quality. The integrated treatment also produced the highest economic returns with a benefit:cost ratio.
Bhavana., Baljinder Singh, K. Bansal et al.· Research on Crops· 0 citations
Pearl millet is an important climate-resilient cereal crop; however, its productivity remains below potential due to inefficient nitrogen management and widespread zinc deficiency, particularly in the light-textured soils of semi-arid Punjab. Therefore, there is a need to develop an integrated nitrogen and zinc management strategy to enhance nutrient-use efficiency, crop productivity, soil fertility, and economic returns. Based on this, a field experiment was conducted during kharif 2024 and 2025 at Guru Kashi University, Punjab, India, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and zinc levels on growth, yield, nutrient uptake, soil fertility, and economics of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with ten treatments comprising different nitrogen levels (80, 100 and 120% recommended dose) applied alone and in combination with zinc at 8 and 10 kg/ha. Integrated application of the recommended nitrogen dose with 100% RDN + 10 kg Zn/ha significantly enhanced dry matter accumulation, effective tillers, grain and stover yield, nutrient uptake, and economic returns over the control. Soil pH, EC, and organic carbon remained unaffected, while available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc showed slight improvement. Higher nitrogen application beyond the recommended dose did not provide additional yield benefits, emphasizing the importance of balanced fertilization. The study indicates that 100% RDN + 10 kg Zn/ha is an effective, sustainable, and economically viable nutrient management strategy for pearl millet under semi-arid Punjab conditions.
Harmanpreet Singh, K. Bansal, Sanjay Kumar et al.· Research on Crops· 0 citations
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