Abstract
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) is predominantly cultivated as a primary food source by small-scale and subsistence farmers in Asia and Africa. It is especially grown in low fertile soils with less availability of phosphorus (P) due to higher fixation of inorganic P fertilizers. In prior published studies, the focus has predominantly been on examining the optimum levels of P fertilizer. However, the exploration of the potential enhancement in productivity and P availability using various P sources in conjunction with phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) remains scarce in Pakistan. Therefore, this 2-year study evaluated the combined effect of different P sources and PSB (Bacillus sp. MN54) on pearl millet grain yield, grain quality, and net economic returns. Different inorganic P sources such as di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), single super phosphate (SSP), nitrophos, and mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) were applied in conjunction with no PSB and PSB inoculation. The individual and interactive effect of P sources and PSB had significantly improved yield-related traits, grain quality, and net benefits of the pearl millet crop. The combination of MAP with PSB inoculation resulted in the highest performance in terms of yield, quality, and economic returns due to better availability of P in the soil. Therefore, it is suggested that P application in the form of MAP along with Bacillus sp. MN54 inoculation could improve productivity, grain quality, and net economic returns of pearl millet.
