Effect of sulphur and zinc management on yield, quality and nutrient uptake in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) – lentil (Lens culinaris) crop sequence

A field experiment was conducted at Panwari village of Agra district during Kharif and rabi season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 to study the effect of sulphur and zinc management on yield, nutrient uptake and residual soil fertility under pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) – lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) crop sequence. Four levels each of sulphur and zinc were evaluated under randomized block design with three replications. Both the nutrients were applied to pearl millet and their direct and residual response was ascertained to pearl millet and lentil in sequence. Pooled results indicated that grain and stover yield of pearl millet improved significantly with increasing levels of S up to 20 kg S ha-1 over control. An increase of 17.0 and 16.5 % in grain and stover yield was recorded with 20 kg S ha-1 over control. Similarly, grain and stover yield of pearl millet increased significantly with Zn and maximum grain (3.46 t ha-1 ) and stover (8.19 t ha-1 ) yields were recorded with 4 kg Zn ha-1 . The content and yield of protein in both the crops increased significantly with the addition of S and Zn over control. The residual effect of S in lentil was significant at 40 kg S ha-1 and grain and straw yield increments were to the extent of 18.6 and 15.8 per cent, respectively. The residual effect of 6 kg Zn ha-1 on succeeding lentil crop produced 16.7 and 14.0 % higher grain and straw yield over control, respectively. Application of S and Zn showed significantly beneficial effect on S and Zn uptake by pearl millet and succeeding lentil crop over control. Nitrogen and P uptake by both the crops also improved significantly with these elements over control