Effect of summer ploughing and in-situ moisture- conservation practices on growth and yield of rainfed pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season (kharit) of 1997 and 1998 with hybrid Pusa 322 pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. Stuntz]. The treatments comprised 3 summer ploughing (no summer ploughing, summer ploughing, summer ploughing t FYM t herbicidet insecticide) and 6 in- . situ moisture-conservation methods (uniform row sowing, paired row sowing, ridge and furrow sowing, organic mulch, kaolin spray and mulch t kaolin). Significant increase in growth and yield of pearlmillet was observed owing to , summer ploughing and the maximum grain yield was recorded under summer ploughing + FYM + herbicide t lnsectlclde (22.70 and 25.09 q/ha in 1997 and 1998 respectlvely), Straw mulch + kaolln spray was found on a par with straw mulch alone and kaolln spray alone for graln yleld durlng both the years. The Increase In graln yleld of pearlmillet owlng to straw mulch+ kaolln epray was 9.93 and 10,33 qlha over unlform row eowlng and 7.34 and 6,02 qlha over rldge and furrow eowlng In 1997 and 1998 respectlvely. Growth and yleld-attrlbutlng characters showed elmllar trend, The eoll-moleture depletion pattern was Influenced by summer ploughing and moleture-coneewatlon treatments only .during 1998, lrrespectlve of the treatment applled, maxlmum sol1 molsture was depleted from top 0-30 cm sol1 layer and the lowest belng from 60-90 cm sol1 layer.