Vol. 9, Special Issue 10, Part G (2025)

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) is a crucial cereal crop in arid and semi-arid regions, where successful hybrid seed production depends on achieving optimal flowering synchronization between parental lines. This study investigated the effectiveness of staggered sowing and nitrogen applications for synchronizing parental lines of pearl millet hybrid VPMH-14. A field experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Vijayapur, using a split-plot design with three replications. The experiment included three staggered sowing treatments (simultaneous sowing, male parent sown 4 days earlier, and 6 days earlier) combined with five nitrogen treatments (control, 2% urea at primordia initiation, 2% urea at panicle exertion, 2% nano urea at primordia initiation, and 2% nano urea at panicle exertion). The parental lines ICMA-98222 (female) and VPMR-16 (male) exhibited natural asynchrony of 4-5 days. Results showed that sowing the male parent 4 days earlier reduced flowering gaps from 3.08 to 2.00 days (35% improvement). Strategic nitrogen applications, particularly nano urea at panicle exertion, further enhanced synchronization. Best treatment combinations achieved near-perfect synchronization with flowering differences of only 1.00 day, representing 67% improvement over conventional practices. These findings provide practical protocols for improving hybrid seed production efficiency and enhancing food security in drought-prone regions.