Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity, nutrient uptake and moisture-use functions of pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum)

A field experiment was conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, during the rainy seasons of 2000 and 2001 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on productivity and nutrient uptake of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. emend. Stuntz.] under rainfed conditions. Inoculation of seed with Azospirillum + phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) with 20 and 15 kg N and P₂O₅ resulted in significantly higher yield attributes, seed yield and NPK uptake. Further, application of 20 kg N + 15 kg P₂O₅/ha + Azospirillum + PSB resulted in higher consumptive use of water (mm), water-use efficiency (kg/ha-mm) and daily rate of water use (mm/day) over other INM treatments. The seed yield and nutrient uptake increased with organic manuring in association with summer ploughing before sowing the crop. The consumptive use of water, wateruse efficiency and daily rate of water use and yield attributes of pearlmillet, yield and N, P and K uptake significantly increased with different organic manures and summer ploughing before sowing of crop. The FYM @ 10 tonnes/ha with summer ploughing before sowing of the crop registered the highest values for the above parameters compared to other organic sources of nutrients and summer ploughing.