Response of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) to levels and scheduling of nitrogen under Maharashtra condition

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Response of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) to levels and scheduling of nitrogen under Maharashtra condition” was conducted on medium black soil at National Agriculture Research Project, Aurangabad under Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani during the summer season 2009. The experiment comprising nine treatment combinations was laid out in factorial randomized block design and replicated three times. The treatment consisted combinations of three levels of nitrogen viz. 60 kg N/ha (N1), 90 kg N/ha (N2), 120 kg N/ha (N3) and three scheduling of nitrogen viz. Half at basal + Half at tillering stage (25 DAS) (T1), Half at basal + Half at leaf boot stage (45 DAS) (T2) and one third at basal + one third at tillering + one third at leaf boot stage (T3). The recommended dose of phosphorus @ 40 kg/ha was applied uniformly to all the treatment as basal in form of single super phosphate. Nitrogen was applied as per treatment in form of urea. Highest growth, yield attributes and yield of summer pearl millet can be obtained by fertilizing the crop with 120 kg N/ha with scheduling of nitrogen as the treatment T3 one third at basal + one third at tillering + one third at leaf boot stage (T3).