Effect of integrated plant nutrient management on pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum) productivity in rainfed subtropic Shiwalik foothills of Jammu and Kashmir

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2013, 2014 and 2015 at Advanced Centre for Rainfed Agriculture, Rakh-Dhiansar, Jammu to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 8 treatments, replicated thrice. Application of 100% recommended dose of NPK significantly improved the growth parameters, yield attributes, yield and nutrient uptake of pearlmillet which was statistically at par with other nutrient resource combinations like 75% N inorganic + 25% N through vermicompost, 75% N inorganic + 25% N through FYM and 50% N inorganic + 50% N through vermicompost. Application of 100% NPK (RDF) also resulted in higher net returns (34.9 × 10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (3.0) followed by 75% inorganic + 25% N through FYM (net returns, 27.4 × 10³/ha; B: C ratio, 2.4) with respect to pearlmillet productivity.