Effect of phosphorus levels and biofertilizer on growth and yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season 2024 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P) on Pearl millet. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, low in organic carbon (0.72%), nearly neutral in soil Ph (7.2), Nitrogen (178.48 kg/ha), Phosphorous (27.80 kg/ha), Potassium (233.24 kg/ha). The Treatment consist of Phosphorus (50 kg/ha, 60 kg/ha, 70 Kg/ha,80 kg/ha) levels and Biofertilizers (PSB, Without PSB). The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with nine treatments and were replicated thrice. The results revealed that significantly higher plant height (178.22 cm), dry weight (60.97 g/plant), number of ears/m2 (23.67), Number of Grains /Ear head (1528.06), seed yield (2.748 t/ha), stover yield (7.38 t/ha), Maximum gross return (INR 110770 /ha), net returns (INR 72177.6 /ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.87) were obtained in the same treatment T3 (60 kg/ha P +PSB) in Pearl millet crop.