Not AvailableLong-term field experiments were conducted at Agra, Solapur and Hisar from 2000 to 2008 to identify
efficient tillage and nutrient management practices and to develop predictive models that would describe
the relationship between crop yields and monthly rainfall for rainfed pearl millet grown on arid and
semi-aridInceptisol, Vertisol and Aridisol soils. Nine treatments comprising a factorial combination of
three tillage practices, viz., conventional tillage (CT), low tillage + interculture (LT1) and low tillage +
herbicide (LT2) and three fertilizer treatments viz., 100% N from an organic source (F1), 50% organic N +
50% inorganic N (F2) and 100% inorganic N (F3) were tested in a split-plot design at the three locations.
Studies revealed that tillage and fertilizer treatments, and their interactions, significantly influenced pearl
millet grain yields at the three locations. Prediction models describing the relation between grain yield
and monthly rainfall indicated that rainfall occurring in June, July and August at Agra; June and July at
Solapur; and June and August at Hisar significantly influenced pearl millet grain yield attained by different
treatments. The R2 values of the model ranged from 0.64 to 0.81 at Agra; 0.63 to 0.92 at Solapur, and
0.75 to 0.89 at Hisar. When averaged over all the treatment combinations, mean pearl millet grain yields
varied from 1590 to 1744 kg ha−1 at Agra; 1424 to 1786 kg ha−1 at Solapur; and 1675 to 1766 kg ha−1
atHisar while their corresponding sustainability yield indice (SYI) varied from 35.4 to 42.2%, 19.9 to
45.6% and 64.1 to 68.3%, respectively. At Agra (Inceptisol), CTF3 resulted in significantly higher mean
net returns (Rs 11 439 ha−1), benefit-cost ratio (2.33), rainwater use efficiency (RWUE) (3.52 kg ha−1
mm−1) and the second best SYI (39.9%). At Solapur (Vertisol), the LT1F3 resulted in significantly higher
net returns (Rs 12 818 ha−1), benefit-cost ratio (3.52), RWUE (3.89 kg ha−1 mm−1) and the fourth best
SYI (42.6%). At Hisar (Aridisol), the LT1F3 treatment gave higher net returns (Rs 3866 ha−1), benefit-cost
ratio (1.26), RWUE (5.05 kg ha−1 mm−1) and the fourth best SYI (67.8%). These treatment combinations
can be recommended for their respective locations to achieve maximum RWUE, productivity and
profitability.Not Availabl
