NAGA MADHURI, K.V.BHANU PRASAD REDDY, S2016-11-232016-11-232014124p.http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/87155An experiment was conducted on sandy loam soils of S.V. Agricultural College Farm, Tirupati (A.P.) during kharif, 2013 in a randomized block design with eight treatments (nutrient management practices) viz., Control (no fertilizers) (T1), 60 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1 (RDF) (T2), 80 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1 (T3), 100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1 (T4), 60 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1 (T5), 80 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1 (T6), 100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1 (T7) and Application of N, P2O5 and K2O based on Soil Test Values (78 kg N ha-1 + 21 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 14 kg K2O ha-1) (T8). These treatments were replicated thrice. The pearl millet hybrid PHB-3 was tested with an inter and intra row spacing of 45 cm x 15 cm to find out its nutrient requirement. The recommended dose of fertilizer (100 % RDF) was 60 N + 30 P2O5 + 20 K2O kg ha-1. The entire quantity of P and K and half of N were applied at the time of planting while the remaining half of N was applied at 30 Days after transplanting (DAT). Nutrient management practices significantly influenced the growth characters (plant height and dry matter production at different stages of crop growth), yield (grain and straw), grain quality parameters (total protein, total amino acid and total carbohydrate content), nutrient content and uptake (N, P and K) by straw and grain at different stages of crop growth and soil fertility status after harvest. The growth parameters viz., plant height was maximum with T4 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1) and dry matter production, was maximum with T7 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1).While lowest values were observed with T1 (control) for plant height and dry matter production. Significantly highest grain and straw yields were obtained with T7 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1) which was on par with T4 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1). The lowest grain and straw yields were obtained with control (T1). The maximum value of harvest index was noticed with T4 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1), while minimum was observed with T1 (control). In case of grain quality parameters, the highest contents of total protein, total amino acid and total carbohydrate were recorded with T7 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1) which was followed by T4 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1). The lowest content was obtained with T1 (control). With respect to the content and uptake of nutrients by the crop, the highest content and uptake of N, P and K were recorded with T7 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1). The least content and uptake of N, P and K was recorded with T1 (control). In grain, the highest nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and uptake was recorded with T7 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1) and the least was recorded with T1 (control). After harvest, at 0-15 cm soil depth, maximum values of available N was noticed with T7 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1) and highest available P was observed with T5 (60 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1) while the highest available K content was with T4 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1). Whereas at 15-30 cm soil depth, maximum values of available N and P were noticed with T7 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1) while the highest available K content was with T4 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1). The highest B : C ratio was recorded with T4 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1) which was on par with T7 (100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1). The lowest B : C ratio was noticed with T1 (control). Based on the above results, it may be concluded that for higher production with good grain quality, pearl millet crop has to be supplied with 100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 40 kg K2O ha-1. However, for optimum and economic production, application of 100 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 20 kg K2O ha-1 can be recommended. Based on results, application of fertilizers based on Soil Test Values also resulted good yields with compared B : C ratio but lower than T4 and T7. This shows that the present RDF has to be changed for optimizing the yields.en-USThesis