Studies on the yield maximization, quality and nutrient uptake of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) hybrid Phule Aadishakti through fertilizer equations of STCRC

Abstract

An experiment entitled “Studies on the yield maximization, quality and nutrient uptake of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) hybrid Phule Aadishakti through fertilizer equations of STCRC” was conducted during kharif 2023 at Bajra Research Scheme, College of Agriculture, Dhule. The experiment consisted of seven treatments laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments viz., (T1) application of fertilizer as per RDF (60:30:30 kg NPK ha-1), (T2) application of fertilizer as per soil test (75:30:15 kg NPK ha-1), (T3) application of fertilizer for 40 q ha-1 yield target (60:68:33 kg NPK ha-1), (T4) application of fertilizer for 45 q ha-1 yield target (77:85:41 kg NPK ha-1), (T5) application of fertilizer for 50 q ha-1 yield target (93:102:49 kg NPK ha-1), (T6) application of fertilizer for 55 q ha-1 yield target (110:119:58 kg NPK ha-1), (T7) application of fertilizer for 60 q ha-1 yield target (126:135:65 kg NPK ha-1), were used in this experiment. Among different yield target based fertilizer application treatments, the application of fertilizer for 60 q ha-1 yield target (T7) produced significantly higher grain and straw yield of pearl millet (46.08 q ha-1 and 91.86 q ha-1) respectively, than other yield target based fertilizer application treatments and it was found to be at par with the application of fertilizer for 55 q ha-1 yield target (T6) for grain yield only. The application of fertilizer for 60 q ha-1 yield target (T7) observed significantly higher protein content (9.75%) and protein yield (449.05 kg ha-1) than the rest of yield target based fertilizer application treatments and it was found to be at par with the application of fertilizer for 55 q ha-1 yield target (T6). Among different yield target based fertilizer application treatments, the maximum uptake of N, P and K in the grains of 71.88 kg ha-1, 24.42 kg ha-1 and 38.71 kg ha-1, respectively was recorded with the application of fertilizer for 60 q ha-1 yield target (T7), but was found to be statistically at par with application of fertilizer for 55 q ha-1 yield target (T6). Similarly, the maximum uptake of N, P and K in the straw of 105.65 kg ha-1, 32.15 kg ha-1and 132.29 kg ha-1 respectively was recorded with the application of fertilizer for 60 q ha-1 yield target (T7), which was highly superior over the rest of the treatments. The highest available nitrogen (166.33 kg ha-1) was recorded with application of fertilizer as per soil test (T2), but was found statistically at par with application of fertilizer for 60 q ha-1 yield target (T7) with 163.0 kg ha-1 available nitrogen. The highest available phosphorus (101.21 kg ha-1) was recorded with the application of fertilizer for 60 q ha-1 yield target (T7) which was highly superior over the rest of the treatments. The application of fertilizer as per RDF (60:30:30 kg NPK ha-1) (T1) recorded the highest available potash (494 kg ha-1) in soil after harvest of pearl millet and it was highly superior over the rest of the treatments.