Evaluation of Moisture Conservation Practices, Inter and Intra Row Spacing on Yield and Yield Components of Pearl Millet

A field experiment was conducted at Alduba to determine the effects of moisture conservation practices, inter and intra row spacing on yield and yield components of pearl millet (Penisetum glaucum L.) under rain fed conditions in 2012-2013. The experiment was conducted with two levels of moisture conservation practices (farmers practice and tied ridge), three levels of inter row spacing (40, 60 and 80 cm) and three levels of intra row spacing (15, 25, and 35 cm). The experimental design was split-split plot with three replications where, moisture conservation practice was arranged as main plot factor, inter and intra row spacing were arranged as sub and sub-sub plot factors, respectively. Phenological and growth parameters such as yield and yield components, total biomass and harvest index were studied. The result showed that out of the studied phenological and growth parameters; number of tillers per plant and days to maturity were significantly affected by moisture conservation practices while days to flowering, plant height and panicle length were not significantly affected by moisture conservation practices. The number of days required to reach at mid flowering and maturity were delayed when tied ridge was used. Use of tied ridge increased both plant height and panicle length. Grain yield was significantly affected by moisture conservation practices. The grain yield obtained from tied ridge (3.634 t ha-1) was higher by 12.52 % compared to farmers practice (3.179 t ha-1). Both total biomas