Effect of different water regimes and nitrogen application on growth, yield, water use and nitrogen uptake by pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Abstract

A study was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2004 and 2005 in a sandy loam soil of the semi-arid region of Delhi to study the effect of different doses of nitrogen (30, 60 and 120 kg/ha) under rainfed and irrigated condition on ‘HHB 67’ pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. emend. stuntz.]. Growth rate varied between different seasonal weather condition, but the relative growth rate and the partitioning of dry matter was similar. Yields were more influenced by water application than the nitrogen doses. Maximum yield (3.19 and 3.10 tonnes/ha in 2004 and 2005, respectively) was recorded with 120 kg N/ha application under irrigated condition, while optimum yield (2.30 and 2.40 tonnes/ha in 2004 and 2005, respectively) and water-use efficiency under rainfed condition was attained with 60 kg N/ha. Stem N concentration at panicle initiation and early boot stage was well correlated with yield, and might be used for predicting the grain yield. A dose of 60 and 120 kg N/ha are the optimum doses in attaining the maximum growth and yield of pearl millet under rainfed and irrigated conditions, respectively.