Effect of plant growth regulators and nutrient levels on yield attributes and yield of pearl millet

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study effect of plant growth regulators and nutrient levels on yield attributes and yield of pearl millet during rabi 2016 at TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Ten treatments with nutrient levels and plant growth regulators were imposed with three replications using RBD. The application of 125 % RDF + foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm at 20 and 40 DAS (T7) had significant influence on yield attributes of pearl millet viz., productive tillers plant-1, earhead length and earhead girth. Application of 125 % RDF + foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm at 20 and 40 DAS (T7) significantly influenced the grain yield and it was at par with the 100 % RDF + foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm at 20 and 40 DAS (T8). Application of 125 % RDF + foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm at 20 and 40 DAS (T7) recorded 94.9 and 19.7 per cent increase in yield over control (T10) and 100 % RDF (T2), respectively and also 100 % RDF + foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm at 20 and 40 DAS (T8) recorded 92.9 and 18.5 per cent increase over control (T10) and 100 % RDF (T2), respectively. Stover yield increased with the application of 125 % RDF + foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm at 20 and 40 DAS (T7) but at par with the 100 % RDF + foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm at 20 and 40 DAS (T8). Application of 125 % RDF + foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm at 20 and 40 DAS (T7) recorded 79.4 and 22.2 per cent over the control (T10) and 100 % RDF (T2), respectively.