Effects of tillage and cropping systems on soil moisture balance and pearl millet yield

A 2-year study was conducted to determine the effects of tillage and cropping systems on soil moisture balance, growth and yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.). Three tillage treatments, viz. minimum tillage (one harrowing), conventional tillage (two harrowing, cross) and deep tillage (ploughing followed by two harrowings), and four cropping systems, viz. monoculture of pearl millet, pearl millet-clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) rotation, monoculture of pearl millet with 5 t ha(-1) farm yard manure (FYM), and intercropping of pearl miller and clusterbean, were compared. Deep tillage improved the soil moisture storage, water use efficiency and grain yield of pearl millet while consumptive use of water was higher with minimum tillage. Total dry matter yield with deep tillage and conventional tillage was 23.2 and 10.2% higher than minimum tillage in the season 1, and the corresponding values for season 2 were 30.7 and 13.3%. The Pearl millet-clusterbean rotation and monoculture of pearl millet with the application of 5 t ha(-1) FYM gave 17.2 and 6.1% higher yield than monoculture of pearl millet, respectively. Maximum water use efficiency was observed in rotation followed by FYM application.