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: T1, control; T2, 100% nitrogen (N); T3, 100% nitrogen and phosphorus (NP); T4, 100% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK); T5, 100% NPK + zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) at 25 kg ha−1; T6, 100% NPK + farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 t ha−1; T7, 100% NPK+ verimcompost (VC) at 2.5 tha−1; T8, 100% NPK + sulfur (S) at 25 kg ha−1; T9, FYM at 10 t ha−1; T10, VC at 2.5 t ha−1; T11, 100% NPK + FYM at 10 t ha−1 + 25 kg S ha−1 + ZnSO4 at 25 kg ha−1; and T12, 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 T11 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 Z...