A study was conducted to assess fertilizer effect on pearl millet-wheat yield and plant-soil nutrients with the following treatments: T-1, control; T-2, 100% nitrogen (N); T-3, 100% nitrogen and phosphorus (NP); T-4, 100% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK); T-5, 100% NPK + zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) at 25 kg ha(-1); T-6, 100% NPK + farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 t ha(-1); T-7, 100% NPK+ verimcompost (VC) at 2.5 tha(-1); T-8, 100% NPK + sulfur (S) at 25 kg ha(-1); T-9, FYM at 10 t ha(-1); T-10, VC at 2.5 t ha(-1); T-11, 100% NPK + FYM at 10 t ha(-1)+25 kg S ha(-1) + ZnSO4 at 25 kg ha(-1); and T-12, 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 T-11 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.