Effect of Soil and Foliar Applications on Growth and Productivity of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season (Nov - Jan) of 2023-2024 in the experimental farm of Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. To study “Effect of soil and foliar applications on growth and productivity of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L).” Factorial Randomized Block Design was used with two factors and 3 replications. The treatment combination consists of 10 treatments viz., T1- 100 percent RDF+ Nano-DAP, T2 - 100 percent RDF + Nano-Urea foliar sprays at 30 and 45 DAS, T3 – 100 percent RDF + FYM at 10 t ha-1 + Nano-DAP foliar sprays at 30 and 45 DAS, T4 – 100 percent RDF + FYM at 10 t ha-1 + Nano-Urea foliar sprays at 30 and 45 DAS, T5 – 100 percent RDF + VC at 5 t ha-1 + Nano-DAP foliar sprays at 30 and 45 DAS, T6 - 100 percent RDF + VC at 5 t ha-1 + Nano-Urea foliar sprays at 30 and 45 DAS, T7 – 75 percent RDF + FYM at 10 t ha-1 + Nano-DAP foliar sprays at 30 and 45 DAS, T8 - 75 percent RDF + FYM at 10 t ha-1 + Nano-Urea foliar sprays at 30 and 45 DAS, T9 - 75 percent RDF + VC at 5 t ha-1 + Nano-DAP foliar sprays at 30 and 45 DAS, T10- 75 percent RDF + VC at 5 t ha-1 + Nano-Urea foliar sprays at 30 and 45 DAS.The results indicated that the application of 75 percent RDF + Vermicompost at 5 t ha-1 + Nano-Urea increased the growth parameters (plant height and Leaf Area Index), physiological parameters (Crop Growth Rate and Chlorophyll Index) and yield (grain and stover yield) of pearl millet.