Effect of Graded Levels of Nitrogen with Iron and Zinc Nutrition on Growth, Yield and Quality of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Hagari of Northern dry zone of Karnataka for the two consecutive years 2021-2022 to study the effect of graded levels of nitrogen with iron and zinc nutrition on growth, yield and quality of Pearl Millet. The experiment consists of nine treatments replicated thrice in randomized complete block design (RCBD).The results showed that application of 100 % Recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) + Foliar spray of ZnSO4.7H2O + FeSO4.7H2Oat0.5 % each at 30 and 45 days after sowing has recorded higher growth parameters viz., plant height (199.4.cm), number of leaves (18.6), leaf area (3160.7 cm2), leaf area index (4.73) and total dry matter production (259.96 g plant-1) at harvest stage. The yield parameters such as weight of ear head (53.13 g plant-1), grain weight (46.11 g plant-1), test weight (21.84 g), grain yield (1739 kg ha-1), stover yield (2900 kg ha-1) and harvest index (37.48 %) recorded significantly higher in treatment T9 consists of 100 % RDN + Foliar spray of ZnSO4.7H2O + FeSO4.7H2Oat0.5 % each at 30 and 45 days after sowing. The quality parameters like, protein content (19.62 %) and protein yield (341.0 kg ha-1) recorded significantly higher in the same treatment. Thus, application of recommended dose of fertilizer along with foliar spray of zinc and iron enhances the growth, yield and quality of pearlmillet.