Evaluation of Nutrient Management Practices for Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2025 at the Agriculture Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Tantia University, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India, to evaluate nutrient-management combinations involving the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF), Azotobacter and Panchagavya in pearl millet. The experiment comprised eight treatments arranged in a randomised block design with three replications. Treatment T5 (100% RDF + Azotobacter + 3% Panchagavya spray at 30 and 45 days after sowing [DAS]) recorded the highest mean plant height (237.84 cm), dry matter accumulation (73.06 g), total tillers plant⁻¹ (3.84), effective tillers plant⁻¹ (3.51), ear length (29.15 cm), test weight (6.03 g) and grain yield (2093.83 kg ha⁻¹). For plant height, dry matter, tiller number, effective tillers, ear length and grain yield, T5 (100% RDF + Azotobacter + 3% Panchagavya spray at 30 and 45 days after sowing [DAS]) was statistically at par with T3 (100% RDF + Panchagavya spray at 3% at 30 and 45 DAS) and T4 according to the reported critical-difference values; treatment effects on plant stand and test weight were non-significant. Stover yield was numerically highest under T3 (100% RDF + Panchagavya spray at 3% at 30 and 45 DAS) (5345.14 kg ha⁻¹). From the reported treatment-mean grain and stover yields, descriptive biological yield and harvest index were highest under T5 (100% RDF + Azotobacter + 3% Panchagavya spray at 30 and 45 days after sowing [DAS]) (7368.45 kg ha⁻¹ and 28.42%, respectively). T5 (100% RDF + Azotobacter + 3% Panchagavya spray at 30 and 45 days after sowing [DAS]) also recorded the highest gross return (₹73,927.64 ha⁻¹), net return (₹44,772.81 ha⁻¹) and benefit:cost ratio (2.54).