Nutritive value of pearl millet stover as influenced by tillage, crop residue and sulphur fertilization

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2013 and 2014 to find out the effect of tillage practices, crop residue and sulphur fertilization on nutritive value of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) stover. Five tillage practices i.e. conventional tillage (CT) with 0, 2 and 4 t/ha crop residue; zero tillage (ZT) with 2 and 4 t/ha crop residue were allocated to main plots and four sulphur levels (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg S/ha) in subplots. Study showed that ZT with 4 t/ha crop residue recorded significantly higher N, P, K and S content in pearl millet stover which remained at par with CT at same residue level. Furthermore, maximum uptake of N, P, K and S was recorded in CT and ZT with 4 t/ha crop residue during 2013 and 2014, respectively. Incremental supply of sulphur fertilizer from 0 to 45 kg/ha had significantly improved N, S and crude protein content and crude protein yield and decreased acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre contents in stover. CT or ZT with 4 t/ha crop residue improved N, P, K, S and CP content and uptake. Similarly, application of 30 kg S/ha in pearl millet improved nutritive quality of stover.