Effect of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)- Pulses Intercropping System with Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet

A field experiment was conducted at the College Farm, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) to study the effect of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) - pulses intercropping system and nutrient management on growth and yield of pearl millet during summer season of the years 2021 and 2022. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design consisting 24 treatment combinations replicated thrice. The main plot treatments comprised of four intercropping system viz., sole pearl millet (I1), pearl millet + greengram (I2), pearl millet + blackgram (I3), pearl millet + cowpea (I4) and six nutrient management practices in sub plot viz. control (F1), 100% RDF to pearl millet through inorganic fertilizer (F2), 5 t/ha FYM + 100% RDF through inorganic fertilizer (F3), 5 t/ha FYM + 100% RDF through inorganic fertilizer on base of STV (F4), 25% RDN through FYM + 75% RDF through inorganic fertilizer (F5) and 50% RDN through FYM + 50% RDF through inorganic fertilizer (F6). Among main plot effect, significantly higher dry matter accumulation per plant, number of effective tillers per plant, earhead length, earhead weight, grain weight per earhead, grain and straw yields of pearl millet were noted in sole pearl millet (I1) during both the years of investigation as well as in pooled analysis. Whereas plant height and pearl millet equivalent yield was significantly higher in pearl millet + greengram (I2) intercropping system. In case of sub plot nutrient management practices, significantly higher values of plant height, dry matter accumulation per plant, number of effective tillers per plant, earhead length, earhead weight, grain weight per earhead, grain and straw yields as well as pearl millet equivalent yield were recorded in F4 (5 t/ha FYM + RDF through inorganic fertilizer on base of STV) which remained statistically at par with treatment F3 (5 t/ha FYM + 100% RDF through inorganic fertilizer) treatment. Interaction effect of I1F4 (sole pearl millet along with 5 t/ha FYM + RDF through inorganic fertilizer on base of STV) resulted in significantly higher dry matter accumulation per plant at 60 DAS and harvest, earhead weight, grain weight per earhead, grain and straw yield of pearl millet.