R. P. YADAV*, SEEMA SHARMA, PRAMOD KUMAR AND VIJAY DANEVA
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Jagan Nath University, Jaipur-303 901 (Rajasthan), India Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, SKNAU, Jobner-302 018 (Rajasthan), India
ICAR- Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut-250 110 (U.P.), India
Faculty of Agriculture, Jagan Nath University, Jaipur-303 901 (Rajasthan), India
*(e-mail: raghu_mam@rediffmail.com)
(Received: 20 July 2025; Accepted: 25 September 2025)
SUMMARY
Excessive tillage and heavy dependence on chemical fertilizers contribute to soil degradation, lower crop productivity, and environmental problems in semi-arid areas. To address this, a study was conducted at the Agronomy Farm of Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute (RARI), Durgapura, Jaipur, during kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024 to assess the impact of tillage, mulch and nutrient management practices on pearl millet. Treatments imposed were four tillage and mulch combinations in main plots and five nitrogen management practices (Control, 100% RDN; Recommended dose of nitrogen through Chemical, 75% RDN through Chemical and 25% RDN through FYM, 50% RDN through Chemical and 50% RDN through FYM and 100% RDN through FYM; Farm Yard Manure) in sub-plots with three replications. Conventional tillage with mustard stover mulch (3 t ha-1) recorded significant increase in growth metrics, including dry matter accumulation (131.9 g/plant1), crop growth rate (19.91 g/m2/day) during 30-45 DAS, net assimilation rate (1.74 g/g1/day1), and leaf area index (3.94 at 60 DAS). On an average, Conventional tillage with mustard stover mulch recorded significantly higher grain yield (19.37%) and stover yield (19.60%). The application of 75% RDN through chemical fertilizer and 25% through FYM proved to be most effective in enhancing growth, physiological parameters and yield, recording 62.56 and 62.27% increase in grain and stover yield, respectively.
Key words: Tillage, mulch, nitrogen, pearl millet, growth, yield