2024, Vol. 7, Special Issue 12

An experiment entitled “Studies on the yield maximization of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) hybrid Phule Aadishakti through fertilizer equations of STCRC” was conducted during kharif 2023 at Bajra Research Scheme, College of Agriculture, Dhule. The experiment consisted of seven treatments laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments viz., (T₁) application of fertilizer as per RDF (60:30:30 kg NPK ha^-1), (T₂) application of fertilizer as per soil test (75:30:15 kg NPK ha^-1), (T₃) application of fertilizer for 40 q ha^-1 yield target (60:68:33 kg NPK ha^-1), (T₄) application of fertilizer for 45 q ha^-1 yield target (77:85:41 kg NPK ha^-1), (T₅) application of fertilizer for 50 q ha^-1 yield target (93:102:49 kg NPK ha^-1), (T₆) application of fertilizer for 55 q ha^-1 yield target (110:119:58 kg NPK ha^-1), (T₇) application of fertilizer for 60 q ha^-1 yield target (126:135:65 kg NPK ha-1), were used in this experiment. The different yield target based fertilizer application treatments significantly influenced the growth and yield of pearl millet. The growth parameters of pearl millet like plant height differed significantly due to different yield target based fertilizer application treatments. Among the different treatments, the application of fertilizer for 60 q ha^-1 yield target (T₇) produced higher growth attributes than other yield target based fertilizer application treatments. But it was statistically at par with the application of fertilizer for 55 q ha^-1 yield target (T₆). The significant effect on the growth character of the plant was noticed due to different yield target based fertilizer applications, which resulted in enhanced yield and yield contributing characters viz., number of total tillers plant-1, number of effective tillers plant^-1, ear head length (cm), ear head girth (cm), 1000 grains weight (g), grain and straw yield (q ha^-1), respectively. Among different yield target based fertilizer application treatments, the application of fertilizer for 60 q ha-1 yield target (T7) produced significantly higher grain and straw yield of pearl millet (46.08 q ha^-1 and 91.86 q ha^-1) respectively, than other yield target based fertilizer application treatments and it was found to be at par with the application of fertilizer for 55 q ha^-1 yield target (T6). The gross and net returns were highest with the application of fertilizer for 60 q ha^-1 yield target (T7) (₹ 120707 ha^-1 and ₹ 80371 ha^-1), respectively than the rest of the treatments and found to be at par with the application of fertilizer for 55 q ha^-1 yield target (T₆). Benefit-cost ratio was also the highest in the application of fertilizer for 60 q ha^-1 yield target (T₇) (2.99) as compared to the other treatments followed by the application of fertilizer for 55 q ha^-1 yield target (T6) and the application of fertilizer as per soil test (T₂).