Abstract: | A study was conducted to assess fertilizer effect on pearl millet–wheat yield and plant-soil nutrients with the following treatments: T1, control; T2, 100% nitrogen (N); T3, 100% nitrogen and phosphorus (NP); T4, 100% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK); T5, 100% NPK + zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) at 25 kg ha?1; T6, 100% NPK + farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 t ha?1; T7, 100% NPK+ verimcompost (VC) at 2.5 tha?1; T8, 100% NPK + sulfur (S) at 25 kg ha?1; T9, FYM at 10 t ha?1; T10, VC at 2.5 t ha?1; T11, 100% NPK + FYM at 10 t ha?1 + 25 kg S ha?1 + ZnSO4 at 25 kg ha?1; and T12, 150% NPK treatments. Treatments differed significantly in influencing soil-plant nutrients and grain and straw yields of both crops. Grain yield had significant correlation with soil-plant N, P, K, S, and zinc (Zn) nutrients. The study indicated superiority of T11 for attaining maximum pearl millet grain yield (2885 kg ha?1) and straw yield (7185 kg ha?1); amounts of N (48.9 kg ha?1), P (8.8 kg ha?1), K (26.3 kg ha?1), S (20.6 kg ha?1), and Zn (0.09 kg ha?1) taken up; and amounts of soil N (187.7 kg ha?1), P (13.7 kg ha?1), K (242.5 kg ha?1), S (10.1 kg ha?1), and Zn (0.70 kg ha?1). It was superior for wheat with grain yield (5215 kg ha?1) and straw yield (7220 kg ha?1); amounts of N (120.7 kg ha?1), P (13.8 kg ha?1), K (30 kg ha?1), S (14.6 kg ha?1), and Zn (0.18 kg ha?1) taken up; and maintaining soil N (185.7 kg ha?1), P (14.5 kg ha?1), K (250.5 kg ha?1), S (10.6 kg ha?1), and Zn (0.73 kg ha?1). Based on the study, 100% NPK + FYM at 10 tha?1 + Zn at 25 kg ha?1 + S at 25 kg ha?1 could be recommended for attaining maximum returns of pearl millet–wheat under semi-arid Inceptisols. |