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.
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.