RESPONSE OF GENETICALLY DIVERGENT PEARL MILLET [PENNISETUM GLAUCUM (L.) R. BR.] VARIETIES TO DIFFERENT ORGANO-MINERAL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2010-11with a premier objective to evaluate different organic amendments for organo-mineral fertility for pearl millet [Pennisetumglaucum (L.) R. Br.]. The experiment was set in RCBD (randomized complete block design) with split plot arrangement including four replications. The main plot treatments were organic fertilizers [fresh Farm Yard Manure (FYM), composted FYM and humic acid (HA)] and a control treatment, while 3 pearl millet varieties (Madina, Hada-Al Sham and Hindi) were in the subplots. The organic amendments were done 15 days before sowing of the crop. A basal dose of N,P, and K @ 66:30:30 kg ha-1 from urea and NPK 15-15-15 was applied at the time of sowing.Overall, the cropshowed best performance for composted FYM based on the millet growth, yield and mineral composition. The effect ofthe other treatmentsin the experiment was in order as: humic acid >control>fresh FYM. Of all three varieties, cv. Hindi outperformed in terms of growth and yieldunder the given nutritional regimes. Cultivar Hindi was found to be more responsive to compost FYM while cv. Madinato humic acid. The results of the present experiment depictedthat application of 18 tons ha-1composted farm yard manure or18 kg-1humic acid can be used as an alternative source of organic amendment. Furthermore, the results of the study highly discouraged the use of fresh FYM as it caused poor crop growth and yield. However, the promising efficacy of humic acid in this study may require further investigationat molecular level and to explore its bio-availability andinteraction with hormones in the plant and microorganism in the rhizosphere.