Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil and Plant Nutrients and Yields of Pearl Millet and Wheat under Semi-arid Inceptisols in India

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess fertilizer effect on pearl millet–wheat yield and plant-soil nutrients with the following treatments: T₁, control; T₂, 100% nitrogen (N); T₃, 100% nitrogen and phosphorus (NP); T₄, 100% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK); T₅, 100% NPK + zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) at 25 kg ha⁻¹; T₆, 100% NPK + farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 t ha⁻¹; T₇, 100% NPK+ verimcompost (VC) at 2.5 tha⁻¹; T₈, 100% NPK + sulfur (S) at 25 kg ha⁻¹; T₉, FYM at 10 t ha⁻¹; T₁₀, VC at 2.5 t ha⁻¹; T₁₁, 100% NPK + FYM at 10 t ha⁻¹ + 25 kg S ha⁻¹ + ZnSO₄ at 25 kg ha⁻¹; and T₁₂, 150% NPK treatments. Treatments differed significantly in influencing soil-plant nutrients and grain and straw yields of both crops. Grain yield had significant correlation with soil-plant N, P, K, S, and zinc (Zn) nutrients. The study indicated superiority of T₁₁ for attaining maximum pearl millet grain yield (2885 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (7185 kg ha⁻¹); amounts of N (48.9 kg ha⁻¹), P (8.8 kg ha⁻¹), K (26.3 kg ha⁻¹), S (20.6 kg ha⁻¹), and Zn (0.09 kg ha⁻¹) taken up; and amounts of soil N (187.7 kg ha⁻¹), P (13.7 kg ha⁻¹), K (242.5 kg ha⁻¹), S (10.1 kg ha⁻¹), and Zn (0.70 kg ha⁻¹). It was superior for wheat with grain yield (5215 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (7220 kg ha⁻¹); amounts of N (120.7 kg ha⁻¹), P (13.8 kg ha⁻¹), K (30 kg ha⁻¹), S (14.6 kg ha⁻¹), and Zn (0.18 kg ha⁻¹) taken up; and maintaining soil N (185.7 kg ha⁻¹), P (14.5 kg ha⁻¹), K (250.5 kg ha⁻¹), S (10.6 kg ha⁻¹), and Zn (0.73 kg ha⁻¹). Based on the study, 100% NPK + FYM at 10 tha⁻¹ + Zn at 25 kg ha⁻¹ + S at 25 kg ha⁻¹ could be recommended for attaining maximum returns of pearl millet–wheat under semi-arid Inceptisols.

Keywords:

• Analysis of variance
• organic and inorganic fertilizers
• plant uptake
• productivity
• soil nutrients

Acknowledgment

The authors express their sincere gratitude to the RBS College, Agra University, Bichpuri, Agra, Uttar Pradesh for providing all facilities for conducting the study.