Planting density and nitrogen management effects on productivity, quality and water-use efficiency of rainfed pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum) under conservation agriculture

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season 2015 at New Delhi, to study the effect of planting density and nitrogen-management practices on conservation agriculture-based rainfed pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. Emend stuntz]. The experiment comprised 3 main-plot treatments, viz. normal distance sowing (D₁), high density sowing followed by (fb) alternate row harvesting for fodder at 35 days after sowing (DAS), (D₂) and high density sowing fb alternate row harvesting for fodder at 45 DAS (D₃) and 5 subplot treatments, viz. control, 60 kg N/ha as basal, 30 kg N/ha as basal + 30 kg N/ha as side dressing, 75 kg N/ha as basal and 37.5 kg N/ha as basal + 37.5 kg N/ha as side dressing. Maximum production efficiency (56.2 kg/ha-day), system yield (4.49 t/ha), net returns (33.9 × 10³/ha) and monetary efficiency (424/ha-day) was recorded under D₂. The highest protein yield (285 kg/ha), consumptive use (423.5 mm), water-use efficiency (6.4 kg/ha-mm) and rate of moisture use (5.3 mm/day) were realized from treatment D₁. Among N-management treatments, 75 kg N/ha as basal resulted in the highest system yield (4.69 t/ha), production efficiency (58.6 kg/ha-day), net returns (36.6 × 10³/ha) and monetary efficiency (457/ha-day). Protein content in grain (11.4%) and protein yield (298 kg/ha), consumptive use of water (429 mm) and water-use efficiency (7.1 kg/ha-mm) were found highest in 37.5 kg N/ha as basal + 37.5 kg N/ha as side-dressing.