Yield and Economics of Pearl Millet as Influenced by Potassium Levels

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2013–2014 in Vertisols of rainfed areas of central India to study the effect of application of graded doses of potassium (15, 30 and 45 kg K₂O ha⁻¹) on growth and yield of pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.). Five treatments of different levels of potassium were tested in Vertisols possessing available potassium level up to 340.3 kg ha⁻¹. Application of 60: 30: 00 kg NPK ha⁻¹+45 kg K₂O ha¹ recorded the maximum yield attributes viz., number of effective tillers plant⁻¹, number of earhead plant⁻¹, mean length of earhead, circumference of earhead, weight of earhead g plant⁻¹, weight of grains g plant⁻¹ and test weight. Similarly, it enhanced the pealmillet grain and stover yield to an extent of 1690 and 3591 kg ha⁻¹. Therefore cost of cultivation, gross monetary returns, net monetary returns and benefit: cost ratio was recorded highest with RDF+45 kg K₂O but which is on par with RDF+30 kg K₂O.