Effect of nitrogen management and phosphorus levels on growth, yield attributes and yield of summer fodder pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) varieties

Abstract

A field experiment, “Effect of nitrogen management and phosphorus levels on summer fodder pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Varieties under North Gujarat agro-climatic conditions” was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during summer season of 2020. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand in texture. There were twelve treatment combinations consisting two varieties i.e., V1 (GFB 1) and V2 (GFB 4), three levels of nitrogen management i.e., N1 (60 kg N/ha as a basal + 30 kg N/ha after first cut), N2 (60 kg N/ha as a basal + 45 kg N/ha after first cut) and N3 (60 kg N/ha as a basal + 60 kg N/ha after first cut) and two levels of phosphorus i.e., P1 (40 kg P2O5/ha) and P2 (60 kg P2O5/ha) were tested in randomized block design with factorial concept. The results revealed that an application of N3 (60 kg/ha as a basal + 60 kg/ha after first cut) recorded significantly higher plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf width, leaf: Stem ratio, stem girth, green fodder yield and dry fodder yield of summer fodder pearl millet variety (GFB 4). An application of 60 kg P2O5/ha recorded significantly higher plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf width, leaf: stem ratio, stem girth, green fodder yield and dry fodder yield of summer fodder pearl millet variety (GFB 4) over other treatments.