THE IMPACT OF SOWING TIME AND PLANT SPACING ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PEARL MILLET UNDER SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PEARL MILLET UNDER SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Optimum sowing time and plant density in terms of plant spacing are the most important management options to get higher yield of any crop. To optimize planting time and plant spacing for better growth and yield of pearl millet, a field study was conducted to study the impact of sowing time and plant spacing on growth and productivity of pearl millet under semi-arid environment. The study comprised of two sowing dates, i.e. June-20- 2015 and July-06-2015 with three planting densities (10 cm spacing, 15 cm spacing and 20 cm plant to plant spacing). Randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements was used by keeping sowing dates in main plots and planting densities in subplots. The millet hybrid 86M86 was sown with help of single row hand drill and row to row distance was 45 cm. All agronomic practices were kept normal and uniform for all treatments under study. It was observed that grain weight per panicle, panicle length, panicle girth, 1000-grain weight (g), grain yield (t ha-1) and biological yield (t ha-1) increased in sowing time 20-June-2015 with 15 cm plant to plant distance. The maximum value of these parameters was observed in sowing time 20-June-2015 with 15 cm plant spacing.