Effect of nitrogen and iron on growth and yield in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Introduction

Pearl millet, scientifically known as [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)]. It is one of early domesticated millet, cereal grain and a staple food crop. It is also referred as "Bajra" in India. It is cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and South Asia. It is native of tropical western Africa some 4000 years ago. It has ability to withstand in harsh weather condition, adapted to extreme temperature and drought, that making it adapted crop for arid reasons than other cereal crops. It is utilized as fodder & feed for livestock. India account 50% of global millet production in the country. In terms of cultivation its ranks 6 th globally & 4 th in country among cereal crops. Its grain contains about 11.6% protein, 5% fat, 67% carbohydrate, 2.7% minerals and about 12.4% moisture. It also contains higher amount of carotene, riboflavin (Vit B 2 ) and niacin (Vit B 4 ). Traditionally, Bajra chapatti known as Sogra/Hogra is the part of daily diet in the western Rajasthan. Besides it, "Khichadi" and "churma" are the delicious dishes prepared from pearl millet flour. One essential nutrient that is closely linked to a plant's vegetative growth and development is nitrogen. It is a necessary nutrient for the structural element of the cell wall and is involved in the metabolic processes of the plant. This is a key component of the synthesis of amino acids, proteins, and chlorophyll, all of which are necessary for plant growth. When present in sufficient quantities, it promotes the growth of individual plant parts as well as the increase of plant output and quality. At a particular concentration, nitrogen increases the availability of potassium (K) and phosphorus (P), three essential nutrients for plants. Indian soil lacks nitrogen, and plants react to it according to its availability. A crop that requires a lot of nitrogen, pearl millet reacts differently to nitrogen fertilizers. Nevertheless, the effects of N treatment on the growth and yield of pearl millet (Bajra) can vary. Since iron is involved in the metabolic processes of respiration, photosynthesis, and DNA synthesis, it is a necessary micronutrient for almost all living things. Fe is essential for the synthesis of proteins, the production of starch, the synthesis of chlorophyll, the maintenance of enzymatic activity, and the synthesis of chloroplasts in pearl millet. In many plant physiological and metabolic pathways, it is essential. Due to the plant's requirement for iron and the consumption of less soluble iron in the soil, an iron deficit results in interveinal chlorosis. Even yet, most well-aerated soils have an adequate amount of it. Because it creates an overwhelming amount of insoluble ferric compounds at neutral pH values, it has little biological activity. Due to its inclusion in numerous active enzymes, including the cytochromes of the electron transport chain, it is necessary for a broad variety of biological processes.

Materials and Methods

field experimental conditions

The experiment was directed at Research farm, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur during Kharif season 2023. The details of the materials used and procedures accepted for crop raising and the standards adopted for assessment of treatments throughout the course of examine are illustrate in this chapter. The experiment was directed at Research farm, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur. Topographically the study area is located at 075 0 88ʼ99ʼʼ E longitude, 26 0 81ʼ17ʼʼ N latitude and his region comes under Agro-climatic zone IIIA (Semi-arid Eastern Plain Zone) of Rajasthan. The climate of this zone is semi-arid characterized by extremes of temperature both in summer and winters. Throughout summers, temperature may go as high as (45.5 ºC), while, in winter, it may lower down upto (1ºC). The rainfall of this tract varies from (500-700 mm), most of which is received by south-west monsoon between the months of July-September. For the Kharif (2023) crop season represented mean weekly data of 29th-41th week in (table 3.1), the mean maximum temperature was lies between (30.5-36.0 ℃) and mean minimum temperature was lies between (16.7-25.2 ℃), mean maximum relative humidity varies from (72.7-90.8%) while mean minimum relative humidity varies from (45.1-72.8%), and total rainfall in this season was (283.70 mm) recorded during the cropping season.

Statistical analysis

Experimental data recorded in various observations were statistically analyzed with the help of Fishers's analysis of variance technique. The critical differences for the treatment comparisons were worked out wherever the (F' test) was found significant @ 5% level of significance.

Results and Discussion

Growth Parameters

Growth attributes of pearl millet presenting in table 4.2 to 4.3 viz., plant height and dry matter accumulation production were significantly increased with increase in N and Fe levels in the experiment. Among the all treatments, T 9 (100% RDN (60 Kg/ha) +1.0% FeSO 4 as foliar spray) attained the maximum plant height (41.90, 155.57 and 208.33 cm) and dry matter production (11.51, 64.52 and 85.78 g per plant) at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest respectively which was on equivalent to T 5 , T 8 , T 4 and T 7 . Highest growth parameters that were observed with T 9 which feasible due to higher level of nutrients, it might made possible better uptake and accumulation of nutrients for better growth of plant height and dry matter accumulation. Further, beneficial effect of Fe attributed towards photosynthesis and chlorophyll synthesis enhanced gave dry matter accumulation. Significantly the length of the ear head (39.56 cm) a considerable improvement over the control was assessed with the utilization of T 9 (100% RDN (60 Kg/ha) +1.0% FeSO 4 as foliar spray). The length of the ear head was gradually increased along with the nitrogen levels these calculations was suggested by Joshi et al. (2018) [7] . It could be due to iron which plays a very important role in DNA synthesis, photosynthesis, respiration and transfer of energy in the metabolic reactions of living cells. The maximum no of tillers were obtained by increase in the nitrogen fertilizer stated by Babar et al. (2021) [3] and Arshewar et al. (2018) [2] . The no of effective tillers per plant significantly was resulted with the utilization of T 9 (100% RDN (60 Kg/ha) +1.0% FeSO 4 as foliar spray) over the control. The increase in the nitrogen the effective tillers are increased significantly has been stated by Gautam et al. (2019) [5] and Gowde et al. (2023) [6] .

Yield attributes and yield

The effect of N and Fe play crucial role on no. of effective tillers per plant, test weight, grain yield, straw yield and protein content of pearl millet. In general, the utilization of 100% RDN (60 Kg/ha) + 1.0% FeSO 4 as foliar spray) increased effective tillers per meter row length in the tune of (39.56). Higher rate of nitrogen utilization of results in cell division, photosynthesis, cytokinin synthesis and many more. This result is closely corroborated with the findings of Ravi et al. (2023) [10] in pearl millet crop. The more no of tillers are obtain by increase in the iron fertilizer has stated by Ravi et al. (2023) [10] . The overall improvement in crop growth due to the effect of nitrogen and iron resulted in growth and development, these results similar with the findings of Maharana et al. (2023) [12] and Ravi et al. (2023) [10] . Significantly maximum test weight resulted (7.95 g) with the utilization of T 9 (100% RDN (60 Kg/ha) +1.0% FeSO 4 as foliar spray) but it was statistically equivalent to the utilization of T 5 , T 8 , T 4 and T 7 . Test weight increased by the application of high level of nitrogen feasible attributed to the better filling of grains resulting into bigger size grains and as a result maximum test weight. This is closely similar with the findings of Arshewar et al. (2018) [2] and Pal et al. (2017) [8] in pearl millet crop. The grain yield and straw yield was significantly determined due to increase of nitrogen. However the grain yield (1542 Kg/ha) and straw yield (3855 Kg/ha) was obtained in T 9 (100% RDN (60 Kg/ha) +1.0% FeSO 4 as foliar spray) which were loftier over the all other treatments and control. The results are also in agreement with the findings of Babar et al. (2021) [3] , Arshewar et al. (2018) [2] . The significant increase in grain and straw yield of pearl millet was largely a function of improved growth and the consequent increase in different yield attributes as mentioned above. This favorable effect feasible owing to the fact that Fe play important function in development and energy transformation in various metabolic processes of the plant. The results revealed that different nitrogen and iron treatments had no significant effect on harvest index of pearl millet. These results are similar to findings of Saini et al. (2018) [11] .

Conclusion

Considering the results obtained from the present investigation, it may be conclude thatthe application of nitrogen at (100% RDN (60 Kg/ha) + 1.0% FeSO 4 as foliar spray) proved to be the most suitable dose as it gave significantly higher plant height, dry matter accumulation, length of ear head, No. of effective tillers, test weight, grain (1542Kg/ha) and straw (3855 Kg/ha) yield.

Above conclusions are based on a one season study and needs further confirmation by repeating the trial for at least one more season.

References

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