Response of promising pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucunt) cultivars to levels and time of nitrogen application under rainfed conditions

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 1998 and 1999 at New Delhi, to study the response of 4 cultivars of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br-emend-stuntz] to different levels and times of N application. Among the 4 cultivars, a hybrid from the IARI, New Delhi, ‘Pusa 605’ and a composite from the ICRISAT, ‘Raj 171’ outyielded the other cultivars ‘Pusa Bajri 266’ and ‘ICMH 356’. A dose of 60 kg N/ha was found to be as good as 90 kg N/ha and split application showed advantage over the basal application.