Effect of summer ploughing and in-situ moisture-conservation practices on growth and yield of rainfed pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum)

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season (kharif of 1997 an d 1998 with hybrid 'Pusa 322' peadmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. em end. Stuntz]. The treatments comprised 3 summer ploughing (no summer plough ing, summer ploughing, summer ploughing + FYM + herbicide + insecticide) an d 6 in-situ moisture-conservation methods (uniform row sowing, paired row s owing, ridge and furrow sowing, organic mulch, kaolin spray and mulch + kao lin). Significant increase in growth and yield of pearlmillet was observed owing to summer ploughing and the maximum grain yield was recorded under su mmer ploughing + FYM + herbicide + insecticide (22.70 and 25.09 q/ha in 199 7 and 1998 respectively). Straw mulch + kaolin spray was found on a par wit h straw mulch alone and kaolin spray alone for grain yield during both the years. The increase in grain yield of peadmillet owing to straw mulch + kao lin spray was 9.93 and 10.33 q/ha over uniform row sowing and 7.34 and 5.02 q/ha over ridge and furrow sowing in 1997 and 1998 respectively. Growth an d yield-attributing characters showed similar trend. The soil-moisture depl etion pattern was Influenced by summer ploughing and moisture-conservation treatments only during 1998. Irrespective of the treatment applied, maximum soil moisture was depleted from top 0-30 cm soil layer and the lowest bein g from 60-90 cm soil layer.