Effect of levels and scheduling of nitrogen on economic, quality, nutrient content, uptake and soil status of pearl millet

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Response of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) to levels and scheduling of nitrogen under south Gujarat condition was conducted on heavy black soil at the College Farm, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) during the summer season 2016. The experiment comprising twelve treatment combinations were laid out in factorial randomized block design and replicated three times. The treatment consisted combinations of four levels of nitrogen viz. 60 kg N/ha (N1), 80 kg N/ha (N2), 100 kg N/ha (N3) and 120 kg N/ha (N4) and three scheduling of nitrogen viz. 50% at basal + 50 top dressing at 30 DAS (M1), 50% at basal + 50% top dressing at 45 DAS (M2) and 50% at basal + 25% top dressing at 30 DAS + 25% top dressing at 45 DAS (M3). 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. The result of the experiment showed that maximum gross return and net return obtained with 120 kg N/ha followed by 100 kg N/ha and 80 kg N/ha. NPK content in grain and straw found non significant with respect to nitrogen level. However uptake of NPK were significantly higher with 120 kg N/ha which was at par with 100 kg N/ha. Nutrient status of soil were not affected significantly with respect to N and P2O5, but K2O status significantly increased with 120 kg N/ha followed by 100 kg N/ha In case of scheduling of nitrogen, maximum gross return and net return secured with 50% at basal + 25% top dressing at 30 DAS + 25% top dressing at 45 DAS (M3) followed by 50% at basal + 50% top dressing at 45 DAS (M2). NPK content in grain and straw found non significant with respect to nitrogen. Significantly higher uptake of NPK reported with 50% at basal + 25% top dressing at 30 DAS + 25% top dressing at 45 DAS (M3) followed by 50% at basal + 50% top dressing at 45 DAS (M2). Nutrient status of soil was not affected significantly with respect to N and P2O5, but K2O status significantly increased with splitting. Thus based on one year field experimentation, it is concluded that higher quality, nutrient uptake, soil status and better economic returns of summer pearl millet can be obtained by fertilizing the crop with 80 kg N/ha and scheduling at 50% at basal + 50% top dressing at 45 DAS along with recommended fertilizer dose of 40 kg P2O5 /ha.