Crop growth and yield parameters of five pearl millet varieties as influenced by FYM and other nutrient inputs under a partially reclaimed sodic soil in Ayodhya, India

Salt- stress presents a substantial threat as it disrupts the normal growth of cereal crops and leads to decreased yields. The persistent occurrence of sodicity/ salinity conditions significantly impacts the growth and development of pearl millet, particularly in salt affected arid and semi-arid regions of the world. This study aimed to assess the growth and yield parameters of five pearl millet varieties namely, Pusa Composite443, Hybrid Pusa-1201, Pusa Composite -383, Pusa composite-701, Pusa composite-612, cultivated on partially reclaimed sodic soils under three different nutrient input treatments (unamended Control, RDF@ N:P:K 80:40:40 and FYM @ 12 Tons ha-1) over a period of two years at Students’ Instructional Farm of College of Agriculture, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, India. Experiment was laid out in split plot design and replicated thrice with five pearl millet varieties viz. Pusa composite 443, Pusa hybrid 1201, Pusa composite 383, Pusa composite 701and Pusa composite 612. Among all five varieties, Pusa composite 443, Pusa hybrid 1201, Pusa composite 383, Pusa composite 701 and Pusa composite 612, the maximum plant height (275 cm, 261, 268, 271 and 263 Kg ha-1 respectively), maximum number of tillers/plant (10.6, 9, 9.33, 10 and 8.67 respectively), maximum number of branches / m2 (128, 108,112, 288 and 104 respectively), maximum number of spikes / Panicle (4887, 6904, 4824, 5524 and 7473 respectively), maximum spikelet size (mm) (2.7, 2.5, 3.52, 2.73, and 2.80 respectively),were recorded under the treatment comprising of N: P(P2 O5 ) : K (K2 O) dose @ 80: 40: 40 Kg ha-1. Significantly higher grain yield (33.15 q ha-1) was observed in ‘Pusa Composite 443’ which was comparable to “Pusa-1201” (32.28 q ha-1) and Pusa Composite -701(31.06 q ha-1) but superior over other two varieties.