Effect of Microclimate Modification on Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Agro Climate Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during the summer 2022 to study the effect of microclimate modification on growth and yield of pearl millet (CO 10). Experiment was laid in Factorized Random Block Design (FRBD) with three factors viz., three levels of land configurations, two levels of mulching and two levels of water stress conditions. Totally 12 treatment combinations that replicated thrice. The results revealed that the paired row with intercropping approach produced the best growth parameters, such as plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and yield followed by paired row sowing and normal sowing due to higher solar radiation interception and utilization. In terms of irrigation level, maximum growth and yield parameters were observed with 0.75 IW/CPE ratio as compared to 0.5 IW/CPE due to lesser canopy temperature. In respect of mulch treatments, the mulched plots under both the levels of irrigation and at different land configurations had higher DMP and yield by reducing soil moisture stress, lowering the canopy temperature and higher PAR use efficiency It is concluded that the microclimatic alterations through changes in land configuration, irrigation and mulch application showed an effective adaptive strategy to mitigate adverse weather susceptibility and climatic risks in field crops.