Effect of organic and inorganic nutrient management on growth and yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2023 at the research farm of Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, Punjab, to study the effect of various organic and inorganic nutrient management strategies on the growth and yield attributes of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) variety PCB 165. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) comprising ten treatments: T1 - Control (No fertilizer applied), T2 - RDF 100%, T3 - RDF 75% + Azotobacter, T4 - RDF 75% + Azospirillium, T5 - FYM 10 t ha⁻¹, T6 - VC 5 t ha⁻¹, T7 - PM 3 t ha⁻¹, T8 - RDF 75% + FYM 5 t ha⁻¹, T9 - RDF 75% + VC 2.5 t ha⁻¹, T10 - RDF 75% + PM 1.5 t ha⁻¹, each replicated three times. Significant effects were observed among treatments for growth parameters and yield. The combined application of 75% RDF + PM 1.5 t ha⁻¹ (T10) resulted in the highest plant height (272.12 cm), number of leaves per row length (97.59), number of tillers per plant (6.69), dry matter accumulation (108.10 g plant⁻¹), ear head length (29.71 cm), grain yield (32.14 q ha⁻¹), and biological yield (116.18 q ha⁻¹). The study demonstrates that integrating poultry manure with inorganic fertilizers enhances growth and yield significantly compared to the sole application of either nutrient source