NAGAMANI, CPOOJA PATIL2019-05-022019-05-022018http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810101579D5695A field experiment entitled “Integrated Nutrient Management in Pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. Stuntz]” was conducted during kharif, 2017 on sandy clay loam soils of dryland farm of S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati campus of Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University. The present experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with ten treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of ten integrated nutrient management practices viz., Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF): 60-30-20 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 (T1), RDF + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T2), 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 (T3), 75% RDF + Poultry Manure (PM) @ 2 t ha-1 (T4), 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T5), 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6), 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (T7), 50% RDF + PM @ 3 t ha-1 (T8, ) 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T9) and 50% RDF + PM @ 3 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T10). The test variety used for the experiment was Dhanshakti. At all the stages of observation, except at 20 DAS higher stature of growth parameters viz., plant height, LAI, dry matter production and number of tillers m-2 were recorded with 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6) which was however, comparable with that of 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 xv kg ha-1 (T5). Growth parameters were found to be at their lowest with 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (T7). At 20 DAS, the highest growth parameters were observed with RDF + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T2), while the lowest was with that of 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (T7). The highest values of yield attributes viz., number of earheads m-2, earhead length, grain weight earhead-1 and test weight were with application of 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6) which maintained parity with that of 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T5). The lowest values of the above said yield attributes were with 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (T7). The highest grain yield, stover yield and harvest index of pearlmillet were recorded with 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6), which was comparable with that of 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T5). Application of 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (T7) resulted in the lowest grain and stover yield including harvest index. Among the different integrated nutrient management practices tried, the application of 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6) resulted in the highest protein and carbohydrate content which was on par with that of 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T5). The lowest protein and carbohydrate content was recorded with 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (T7). The highest nutrient uptake (N,P,K) by pearlmillet was recorded with 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6), which was on par with that of 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T5), while the lowest nutrient uptake was recorded with 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (T7). Application of 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6) resulted in the highest post-harvest soil fertility status (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) followed by that with 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T5). The lowest post-harvest soil fertility status was resulted with 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (T7). The highest post-harvest soil organic carbon was recorded with 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T5) which was significantly superior to that with 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6). The lowest post-harvest soil organic carbon status was recorded with 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T9). The higher post-harvest soil microbial load was recorded with the application of 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB xvi @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6) which was however, comparable with that of 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T5) and the lowest microbial load was recorded with 100% RDF (T1). Among the various integrated nutrient management practices tried, the highest gross and net returns were obtained with the application of 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6). The benefit-cost ratio was highest with the application of RDF + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T2) followed by 75% RDF + PM @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6). The lowest economic returns were realized with the application of 50% RDF + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (T7). In conclusion, the present study indicated that combined application of 75% RDF + PM (Poultry Manure) @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 to pearlmillet is the most efficient integrated nutrient management practice for the better growth, yield, quality, economics and soil fertility status. Hence it is proposed to be an economically feasible and ecologically sustainable nutrient management practice for the kharif pearlmillet.en-USnullThesis