Effect of Fertility Levels and Anti-transpirents on Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. Emend Stuntz]
Tushar Dave *
Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, 302017, India.
O. P. Sharma
Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, 302017, India.
L. S. Dhayal
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, 302017, India.
Preeti Nair
School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, 302017, India.
Indra Raj Yadav
Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, 302017, India.
Vaishali Chaturvedi
Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, 302017, India.
Rashmi Sharma
Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, 302017, India.
Gopeshwar Yadav
Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, 302017, India.
Monu Choudhary
Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, 302017, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2024 at the Agronomy Research Farm, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, to evaluate the effect of fertility levels and anti-transpirants on growth and yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. Stuntz). The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design with sixteen treatment combinations comprising four fertility levels (control, 50% RDF, 75% RDF, and 100% RDF) and four anti-transpirants (control, PMA @ 250 ppm, Kaolin @ 6%, and PMA + Kaolin), replicated thrice. Results revealed that 100% RDF recorded the highest plant height (187.6 cm), dry matter accumulation (119.0 g plant⁻¹), effective tillers (2.74 plant⁻¹), ear length (24.48 cm), test weight (7.10 g), grain yield (2353 kg ha⁻¹), and stover yield (6042 kg ha⁻¹). Among anti-transpirants, PMA + Kaolin proved superior, producing maximum plant height (182.7 cm), dry matter accumulation (114.5 g plant⁻¹), effective tillers (2.62 plant⁻¹), ear length (22.74 cm), and grain yield (2177 kg ha⁻¹). The interaction effect was significant for ear length and grain yield, with the combination of 100% RDF + PMA + Kaolin producing the longest ears (27.54 cm) and the highest grain yield (2767 kg ha⁻¹). The study concludes that integrated application of optimum fertility (100% RDF or 75% RDF) with PMA + Kaolin spray is most effective in enhancing pearl millet productivity under semi-arid conditions.
Keywords: Pearl millet, fertility levels, anti-transpirants, PMA, Kaolin, water-use efficiency, RDF