Author(s):

AK Saini, AM Patel, PP Chaudhary and LH Saini

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2015 and 2016 on loamy sand soils of Agronomy Instructional Farm, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat to assess the impact of irrigation, fertility and hydrogel levels on growth attributes and yield of summer pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with 3 replications, consisted of 3 irrigation levels [0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 irrigation water : cumulative pan evaporation ratio (IW: CPE)], 2 fertility levels (120 : 60 : 00 and 150 : 75 : 00 kg N : P₂O₅ : K₂O/ha) in main plots and 3 hydrogel levels (0.0, 2.5 and 5.0 kg/ha) in sub-plots. The pooled results indicated that irrigation at 1.2 IW/CPE being at par with 1.0 IW/CPE enhanced growth parameters viz., plant height, number of effective and non effective tillers, dry matter production, CGR and RGR and yield of pearl millet. Application of 150: 75: 00 kg N : P₂O₅ : K₂O/ha (125% RDF) significantly improved growth parameters, seed yield, stover yield and harvest index over 100 % RDF (120 : 60 : 00 kg N : P₂O₅ : K₂O/ha). Higher grain yield was a reflection of higher plant height, effective tillers/m, total dry-matter production, grain yield, stover yield and harvest index of pearl millet under application of 5.0 kg hydrogel/ha. Grain yield was found to be significantly and positively correlated to growth viz., plant height (R² = 0.858), number of tillers/plant (R² = 0.722), dry matter production (R² = 0.921) and CGR (R² = 0.858); similarly correlation studies between growth and yield showed positive association among themselves. Therefore, irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE, fertilizer dose of 150 : 75 : 00 kg N : P₂O₅ : K₂O/ha and hydrogel @ 5.0 kg/ha could be applied for higher growth attributes and yields of pearl millet for appreciable saving of water and fertilizers in summer season.

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