Response of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) to split application of nitrogen under irrigated conditions

The field experiment entitled “Response of pearlmillet to split application of nitrogen under irrigated conditions (Pennisetum glaucum L.)’’ was conducted at experimental farm of National Agricultural Research Project, Chh. Sambhajinagar, with a view to find out the effect of nitrogen levels and split application of nitrogen on growth and yield of pearlmillet during Kharif 2023. The experiment was conducted in split plot design which comprised of three main plot treatments of nitrogen levels viz., N1 (100% RDN), N2 (112.5% RDN), N3 (125%RDN) and four sub plot treatments of split application of nitrogen viz., S1(Entire dose of nitrogen at sowing), S2 (50% at sowing + 50% at tillering), S3(50% at sowing + 50% at boot stage), S4 (25% at basal + 50% at tillering stage + 25% at boot stage). The Crop’s recommended dose of fertilizer was 60:30:30 kg NPK per hectare. The pearlmillet was sown on 29th June 2023 by dibbling method and harvested at 27th September 2023. All the operations were conducted in accordance with the specified experimental treatments. The gross and net plot sizes were 4.5×5.0 m2 and 3.6×4.8 m2 respectively. Rainfall received during growth period was 396 mm. Irrigation was given in dry spell in the month of August. Effect of nitrogen levels was observed on all the growth and yield attributes of pearlmillet. Among the three nitrogen levels, treatment N3 (125%RDN) recorded highest grain yield (2395kg ha-1) and fodder yield (6197 kg ha-1). It showed significantly highest GMR (77619.67 Rs ha-1), NMR (46619.67 Rs ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.50) over the rest of the treatments in kharif 2023. Effect of split application of nitrogen observed on all the growth and yield attributes of pearlmillet. Treatment S2 (50% at sowing + 50% at tillering) revealed significantly highest grain yield (2557 kg ha-1) and dry fodder yield (7021 kg ha-1). GMR, NMR and B:C ratio of pearlmillet was found to be highest in treatment S2 (50% at sowing + 50% at tillering), (83539.77 Rs ha-1; 53039.77 Rs ha-1; 2.73 respectively).