Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil and Plant Nutrients and Yields of Pearl Millet and Wheat under Semi-arid Inceptisols in India

A study was conducted to assess fertilizer effect on pearl millet-wheat yield and plant-soil nutrients with the following treatments: T 1 , control; T 2 , 100% nitrogen (N); T 3 , 100% nitrogen and phosphorus (NP); T 4 , 100% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK); T 5 , 100% NPK + zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4 ) at 25 kg ha −1 ; T 6 , 100% NPK + farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 t ha −1 ; T 7 , 100% NPK+ verimcompost (VC) at 2.5 tha −1 ; T 8 , 100% NPK + sulfur (S) at 25 kg ha −1 ; T 9 , FYM at 10 t ha −1 ; T 10 , VC at 2.5 t ha −1 ; T 11 , 100% NPK + FYM at 10 t ha −1 + 25 kg S ha −1 + ZnSO 4 at 25 kg ha −1 ; and T 12 , 150% NPK treatments. Treatments differed significantly in influencing soil-plant nutrients and grain and straw yields of both crops. Grain yield had significant correlation with soil-plant N, P, K, S, and zinc (Zn) nutrients. The study indicated superiority of T 11 for attaining maximum pearl millet grain yield (2885 kg ha −1 ) and straw yield (7185 kg ha −1 ); amounts of N (48.9 kg ha −1 ), P (8.8 kg ha −1 ), K (26.3 kg ha −1 ), S (20.6 kg ha −1 ), and Zn (0.09 kg ha −1 ) taken up; and amounts of soil N (187.7 kg ha −1 ), P (13.7 kg ha −1 ), K (242.5 kg ha −1 ), S (10.1 kg ha −1 ), and Zn (0.70 kg ha −1 ). It was superior for wheat with grain yield (5215 kg ha −1 ) and straw yield (7220 kg ha −1 ); amounts of N (120.7 kg ha −1 ), P (13.8 kg ha −1 ), K (30 kg ha −1 ), S (14.6 kg ha −1 ), and Zn (0.18 kg ha −1 ) taken up; and maintaining soil N (185.7 kg ha −1 ), P (14.5 kg ha −1 ), K (250.5 kg ha −1 ), S (10.6 kg ha −1 ), and Zn (0.73 kg ha −1 ). Based on the study, 100% NPK + FYM at 10 tha −1 + Zn at 25 kg ha −1 + S at 25 kg ha −1 could be recommended for attaining maximum returns of pearl millet-wheat under semi-arid Inceptisols.