Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) growth and productivity under different sowing methods, mulching and foliar feeding of nutrients

GOGRAJ  OLA; P S  SHEKHAWAT; RAMNIWAS; PRIYANKA  GAUTAM; PRAVEEN KUMAR  NITHARWAL; KAMLESH  CHOUDHARY; LAKSHYA  CHOUDHARY; PIYUSH  CHOUDHARY; KAUSHALYA  CHOUDHARY

doi:10.56093/ijas.v94i7.143814

Authors

GOGRAJ OLA Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 006, India
P S SHEKHAWAT Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 006, India
RAMNIWAS ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, New Delhi
PRIYANKA GAUTAM ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, Rajasthan
PRAVEEN KUMAR NITHARWAL Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 006, India
KAMLESH CHOUDHARY Govt. of Rajasthan
LAKSHYA CHOUDHARY Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 006, India
PIYUSH CHOUDHARY Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan
KAUSHALYA CHOUDHARY Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Rajasthan

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v94i7.143814

Keywords:

Foliar spray, Mulch, Seedlings, Sowing methods

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2020 and 2021 at College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan to determine the effect of sowing technique, mulching, and NPK foliar fertilization on growth, yield, and yield attributes of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] in arid circumstances. Experiment consisted of 3 sowing methods, viz. direct seed sowing (45 cm × 15 cm); 2-week-old seedling (60 cm × 22.5 cm); and 4-week-old seedling (60 cm × 22.5 cm) transplanting; and 3 mulches, viz. no mulch; dust mulch; and straw mulch assigned to main-plot and 2 levels of NPK foliar fertilization [control and NPK @1% foliar spray at 35 and 50 DAS (days after sowing)] assigned to sub-plot. Results showed that transplanting 4-week-old seedlings led to significantly higher plant height (170.1 cm), dry-matter accumulation (133.6 g), total and effective tillers (3.41 and 3.14), ear head length (24 cm), ear head girth (2.28 cm), weight of ear head (31.5 g), grains/ear (1964), weight of grains/ear (18.9 g), comparable to 2-week seedling transplanting. The grain yield (2396 kg/ha) and straw yield (6640 kg/ha) were significantly superior with 4-week-old seedlings over 2-week seedling by 8.2, 5.4% on pooled basis. Straw mulch exhibited superior most for growth and yield parameters, followed by dust mulch. Additionally, NPK @1% foliar spray at 35 and 50 DAS resulted in significantly higher plant height (170.5 cm), dry-matter accumulation (131.6 g), ear head length (23.7 cm), ear head girth (2.27 cm), weight of ear head (31.1 g), grains/ear (1921), weight of grains/ear (18.5 g), compared to the control. The grain yield (2303 kg/ha) and straw yield (6548 kg/ha) were significantly superior with NPK @1% by 9.5% and 11% over control. In conclusion, the combination of transplanting 4-week-old seedlings, straw mulch and NPK @1% foliar spray offering a potential solution for enhancing agricultural productivity in the region.

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