Effect of Organic Manures on Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Abstract

This experimental study was conducted during kharif 2021 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh). The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.6), low in organic carbon (0.51%), available N (230 kg/ha), available P (17.80 kg ha-1) and available K (245.10 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatments each replicated thrice on the basis of one year experimentation. The treatments which are T1: Farm Yard Manure 5 t-ha-1 + vermicompost 3 t-ha-1, T2: Farm yard manure 5 t-ha-1 + poultry manure 2 t-ha-1, T3: Farm yard manure 5 t-ha-1 + vermicompost 1.5 t-ha-1 + poultry manure 1 t-ha-1, T4: Farm yard manure 7.5 t-ha-1 + vermicompost 3 t-ha-1, T5: Farm yard manure 7.5 t-ha-1 + poultry manure 2 t-ha-1, T6: Farm yard manure 7.5 t-ha-1 + vermicompost 1.5 t-ha-1 + poultry manure 1 t-ha-1, T7: Farm yard manure 10 t-ha-1 + vermicompost 3 t-ha-1, T8: Farm yard manure 10 t-ha-1 + poultry manure 2 t-ha-1, T9: Farm yard manure 10 t-ha-1 + vermicompost 1.5 t-ha-1 + poultry manure 1 t-ha-1, are used. The results showed that application of Farm yard manure 10 t-ha-1 + vermicompost 1.5 t-ha-1 + poultry manure 1 t-ha-1 was recorded significantly higher Plant height (174.21 cm), Plant dry weight (45.67 g). Whereas significantly highest crop growth rate (16.72 g m-2 day-1) and relative growth rate (0.0411 g/g/day) was recorded with the treatment Farm yard manure 7.5 t-ha-1 + vermicompost 1.5 t-ha-1 + poultry manure 1 t-ha-1. Significantly maximum Number of earheads-m-2 (44.67), Number of grains/earhead (1976.67), Test weight (9.05 g), Grain yield (2.59 t-ha-1), Straw yield (3.64 t-ha-1), Gross returns (Rs.1,55,400), Net returns (Rs. 94600) and Benefit Cost ratio (1.56) were obtained with application of Farm yard manure 10 t-ha-1 + vermicompost 1.5 t-ha-1 + poultry manure 1 t-ha-1 as compared to other treatments.