Quality Parameters and Plant Nutrient Ratios of Forage Pearl Millet as Influenced by Nitrogen, Potassium and Sulphur Levels in Loamy Sand Soils of Anand

Field experiment was conducted on loamy sand soil of Anand (Gujarat) during 2003 and 2004 to study the effect of different levels of N, K and S on forage pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]. There were two levels of N viz., 100(N₁) and 150(N₂) kg ha^-1, three treatments of K viz., 0 (K₀), 40 kg K₂O ha^-1 applied either entirely as basal (K₁) or 50% as basal and remaining in two equal splits after first and second cuts (K₂) and three levels of S viz., 0 (S₀), 20 (S₁) and 40 (S₂) kg S ha^-1. Application of higher N rate (150 kg N ha^-1) or K (40 kg K₂O ha^-1) or S (40 kg S ha^-1) increased crude protein content (CPC) and crude protein yield and decreased acid detergent fiber (ADF) or neutral detergent fiber (NDF) or both. Interaction effect of N×K showed that N₂K₁ and N₂K₂ reduced NDF content and improved the quality more than that of lower levels of N and K. The values were in acceptable range for good quality fodder. The nutrient ratios N:S (6.03 to 7.71), S:P (0.63 to 0.75), S:Zn (85.81 to 95.41) and Ca:P (1.47 to 1.60) of pearl millet were in the acceptable range and either favorably or neutrally influenced by N₂, K₁ or K₂ and S₂. Thus, the crude protein yield and quality of forage pearl millet were improved through N, K and S application.