NITROGEN, SULFUR AND THIOUREA NUTRITION OF PEARL-MILLET [PENNISETUM-GLAUCUM (L.) R. BR.] II - EFFECT ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS

Response of pearl miller to nitrogen, sulphur, and seed and foliar app lication of thiourea, a sulphydryl compound, was studied under arid co nditions for three consecutive seasons. Application of 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha(-1) significantly increased mean grain yield by 46.7, 72.1 and 71.7% and stover yield by 16.9, 33.1 and 38.9%, respectively. Increas e in yield due to N was a cumulative effect of significant increases i n yield attributes (number of ears plant(-1) by 7.2-9.9%, number of gr ains ear(-1) by 11.0-27.2%, 1000-grain weight by 12.5-18.4%). Sulphur application had no significant effect on grain yield, even though the available sulphur content of the soil ranged between 8.4 to 8.9 ppm. T he N:S ratio of leaves remained around 14, indicating. presence of eff icient mechanism for sulphur uptake and translocation by the crop. Pea rl miller was thus identified as S-efficient crop. Foliar spray of 100 0 ppm thiourea significantly increased yield attributes especially the 1000-grain weight. Dry matter distribution either in leaves or stems decreased due to thiourea spray and there was commensurate increase in dry matter distribution in ears leading to enhancement in capacity of developing grains to accept carbohydrates and consequent increase in yield by 0.181 t ha(-1) over untreated control. Thiourea seed plus fol iar treatment led to further improvement in grain yield.