Combine Application of Zinc and Boron Improves Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) Performance Under No Tillage and Plough Tillage

Abstract

No-tillage (NT) and crop rotation with green manure crops is a best alternative to plough tillage because it sustains environmental health, conserves natural resources and also improves crop growth and yield Conventional tillage practices result in losses of soil, water, and nutrients in the field, as well as degraded soils with low organic matter content and unstable physical structures, resulting in low crop yields and inefficient water and fertilizer usage. Micronutrient deficiencies, such as zinc (Zn) deficiency, is becoming more common in various annual crops as a result of continuous tillage. Zn has specific and essential physiological functions in plant metabolism, influencing yield and quality. Boron (B) plays an important role in the physiological process of plants, such as cell elongation, cell maturation, meristematic tissue development, and protein synthesis. To evaluate the role of Zn and B this experiment was performed in College of Agriculture BZU Bahaddar Sub Campus Layyah. Experiment was comprised of two tillage systems (No tillage and plough tillage) and three treatments application including (Zn, B, Zn+B) compared with control. These treatments were arranged according to RCBD split plot arrangement with net plot size of 1.8×4m. Findings of this study revealed that combine application of Zn and B boosted pearl millet growth and yield under no-tillage. Maximum relative water contents (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), chlorophyll pigment, plant height, tillers per plant, leaf area index (LAI), stem diameter, length of ear head, seeds per ear, grain mass, grain yield, biological yield and 1000 grains were recorded when combine application of Zn and B was done under no-tillage. From the results it was concluded that pearl millet growth and yield can be maximized through combine application of Zn and B under no tillage.