1Assistant Research Scientist, Centre for Natural Resources Management, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, 385 506
2Assistant Research Scientist, Centre for Research on Integrated Farming System, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, 385 506
3Scientist, Agronomy, Krushi Vigyan Kendra, SDAU, Deesa, Gujarat, 385 535
Sadarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Banaskantha, Gujarat, 385 506
*Corresponding author's E-mail: aksaini.agro@gmail.com)
Online published on 12 April, 2021.
A field experiment was conducted on loamy sand soil during two consecutive summer seasons (Zaid) of 2016 and 2017 at Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, to evaluate the effect of irrigation, fertilizer and hydrogel on growth, yield and economics of summer pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). The result revealed that all growth traits, yield components, grain and straw yield of pearl millet increased significantly with an increase level of irrigation up to 1.0 irrigation water: cumulative pan evaporation (IW : CPE) ratio with water application 541 mm, fertility of 125% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and hydrogel application @ 5 kg/ha on pooled basis. The highest water productivity was recorded with an IW : CPE ratio of (1.0) 125% RDF and hydrogel application @ 5 kg/ha on pooled basis. The highest net returns and benefit: cost ratio were recorded with IW : CPE ratio of 1.2 and 125% RDF. However, increasing level of hydrogel application from 0 kg to 5 kg/ha, benefit: cost ratio was not increased in both the years of study.
Fertility, Hydrogel, Irrigation, Pearl millet, Yield
