Effect of moisture conservation, sowing methods and split application of nitrogen on sustainable profitability ofpearlmillet under arid inceptisols

A field experiment was conducted for 4 years (2007 to 2010) on pearlmillet in an arid Inceptisol at Agra in north India to identify a profitable moisture conservation practice alongwith split nitrogen application practices. Five moisture conservation practices [flat bed + broadcast sowing; flat bed + broadcast sowing + conservation furrow; flat bed + line sowing; flat bed + line sowing + conservation furrow; ridges and furrows]; and 5 nitrogen levels [control; 60 kg N ha⁻¹ at sowing; 60 kg N ha⁻¹ in 2-equal splits (!4 at sowing + ˡA at tillering); 60 kg N ha⁻¹ in 3-unequal splits (!4 at sowing + ˡA at tillering + ˡA at earing); 60 kg N ha⁻¹ in 3-equal splits (1/3 at sowing + 1/3 at tillering + 1/3 at earing)] were tested. The rainfall received from sowing to harvest ranged from 315.7 to 758.4 mm in different years. Based on analysis of variance, the effects of moisture conservation, nitrogen application and their interaction were significant during all the years of experimentation. The ridges and furrows method gave significantly higher mean yield of 2986 kg ha⁻¹ and rainwater use efficiency (RWUE) of 9.46 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ over different nitrogen application practices; while 60 kg N ha⁻¹ in 3-equal splits gave mean yield of 3106 kg ha⁻¹ with RWUE of 9.84 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ over moisture conservation practices. When compared with control, the 3-equal splits of N gave mean yield increase of 77.9%, followed by 3-unequal splits with 69.8%, 2-equal splits with 53.5% and 100% nitrogen application as basal with 32.8% over years. Similarly, when compared with 100% N as basal, the 3-equal splits of N gave yield increase of 34.7%, followed by 3-unequal splits with 28.5% and 2-equal splits with 16.2% over years. By adopting ridges and furrows together with 60 kg N ha⁻¹ in 3-equal splits, the farmers could get sustainable pearlmillet yield of 3 807 kg ha⁻¹ with RWUE oil.21 kg ha mm⁻¹; gross returns of " 29, 512 ha⁻¹ with benefit-cost ratio of 2.59; and nitrogen use efficiency of 63.5% over years under arid Inceptisols.