Response of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) to different spacing and fertilizer levels under Eastern dry zone of Karnataka

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Main Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbala, Bengaluru during Rabi 2018-19 and 2019-20 for two consecutive years. The soil was sandy loam in texture with neutral pH (6.24), low organic carbon (0.25), low in available N (244.14 kg ha­-1) and medium in available P2O5 (28.32 kg ha­-1) and K2o (186.04 kg ha­-1). The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with three different spacing (S1-30x15 cm, S2-45x15 cm and S3- 60x15 cm) as main plots and three fertilizer levels (F1- 20:10:10 NPK kg/ha, F2- 40:20:20 NPK kg/ha and F3-60:40:40 NPK kg/ha) in sub plots. Totally there were nine treatment combinations which were replicated thrice in split plot design. The results revealed that among different spacing, significantly higher grain yield was recorded with the spacing of 45 x 15 cm (2022 kg/ha) which was on par with 30 x15 cm (1785 kg/ha) spacing as compared to wider spacing of 60 x 15 cm (1588 kg/ha). Among sub plots, grain yield was significantly higher with the fertilizer level of 60:40:40 NPK kg/ha (1828 kg/ha) but which was on par with fertilizer level of 40:20:20 NPK kg/ha (1710 kg/ha) as compared to the fertilizer level of 20:10:10 NPK kg/ha (1392 kg/ha). Similarly, growth parameters viz., number of branches per plant and panicle length was significantly higher in wider spacing of 60 x15 cm as compared to other spacing. Whereas, plant height significantly higher in narrow spacing of 30 x 15 cm. However, number of branches per plant and panicle length was significantly higher with wider spacing of 60 x15 cm as compared to other spacing. Similarly, maximum net returns and B:C ratio were noticed in fertilizer level of 60:40:40 NPK kg/ha (Rs.153473/ha and 5.23, respectively) which was closely followed by 40:20:20 NKP kg/ha (Rs. 142560/ha and 5.01, respectively).