Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ROOT VOLUME AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE OF PEARL MILLET AS INFLUENCED BY LEVELS OF POTASSIUM

Toncher S.S., M.R. Deshmukh, N.D. Rathod and K.J. Kubade

Abstract

There is yield gap due to inadequate and imbalance supply of fertilizers and lack of distinct fertilizer recommendation for plenty of varieties and hybrids of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.). To bridge this gap, a field experiment was conducted during July to September of 2013-2014 to study the effect of potassium nutrition along with recommended dose of fertilizers on nutrient uptake and soil fertility. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design replicated four times with five treatments of different levels of potassium. Significantly highest root volume (19.40 cc) was figured out with RDF+45k being on par with RDF+30k (18.70 cc). Both these treatments found statistically similar. Other fertilizer treatments did not reached to the level of significance when compared with former treatments. The maximum total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake (58.22, 13.95 and 57.95 kg NPK/ha) was recorded with treatment RDF+45k being on par with RDF + 30k.