Effect of NPK and Zinc levels on Growth and Yield of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in crop research farm in department of Agronomy during Zaid season of 2022 on Pearl millet crop. The treatment consisted of three levels of NPK (50,75 and 100%) and Zinc (10,15 and 20 kg/ha) and a control. The experiment was laid out with a randomize block design (RBD) with ten treatments which are replicated thrice as T1 : 50% NPK kg/ha + Zinc 10 kg/ha, T2 : 50% NPK kg/ha + Zinc 15 kg/ha, T3: 50% NPK kg/ha + Zinc 20 kg/ha, T4 : 75% NPK kg/ha + Zinc 10 kg/ha, T5 : 75% NPK kg/ha + Zinc 15 kg/ha, T6 : 75% NPK kg/ha + Zinc 20 kg/ha , T7 : 100% NPK kg/ha + Zinc 10 kg/ha, T8 : 100% NPK kg/ha + Zinc 15 kg/ha, T9 : 100% NPK kg/ha + Zinc 20 kg/ha and a T10 : Control. Application of 100% NPK kg/ha combination with Zinc 20 kg/ha was recorded significantly higher plant height (192.43 cm), plant dry weight (42.54 g/plant), ear head length (18.10 cm) number of grains per ear head (1658), grain yield (2.62 t/ha), stover yield (3.33 t/ha), harvest index (43.99%). Maximum gross returns (1,30,750.00INR/ha), net returns (89,939.00INR/ha) and higher Benefit cost ratio (2.22).