Effect of biochar on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by finger millet in acidic soil

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at farmer’s field to study the effect of biochar on growth and yield of finger millet (GPU-28) during Kharif 2017. The experiment included seven treatments and three replications. The results revealed that application of 100 per cent RDF + 125 per cent of biochar equivalent of carbon in FYM recorded higher plant height and number of tillers hill-1, yield parameters i.e, Number ear heads hill-1, Number of fingers ear head-1, 1000 grain weight, grain (4264 kg/ha) and straw yield (6416 kg/ha), uptake of nutrients by finger millet. The study clearly showed that application of 100 per cent NPK + ZnSO4 + 125 per cent of biochar equivalent of carbon in FYM is more beneficial in enhancing the crop yield, crop productivity as well as nutrient uptake.