Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Sweta A Patel, Neha Chaudhary and Chatra Ram

Abstract:
A field study was conducted during the summer seasons of 2017 and 2018 on loamy sand soils of Agronomy Instructional Farm, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat to assess the residue management and fertilizer levels on growth, yield, protein content and soil fertility status of summer pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]. The pooled results indicated that among the wheat residue management treatments, harvesting through combine harvester and straw incorporate in soil + decomposer fungal consortia (1 lit/t) + 25 kg N/ha enhanced the dry matter production, grain yield of pearl millet and protein content with the soil chemical and biological properties over burning of crop residues. Among wheat residue management treatments, harvesting through combine harvester and burning the straw recorded significantly lower weed density and dry weight of weeds at 20 DAS in pearl millet. Application of 120: 60: 00 kg N: P₂O₅: K₂O/ha (100 per cent RDF) to pearl millet significantly improved growth parameters, seed yield, highest protein content with the soil chemical and biological properties than 50 per cent RDF (60: 30: 00 kg N: P₂O₅: K₂O/ha), while, significantly lower weed density and dry weight of weeds recorded under 50 per cent RDF.