Effect of spacing and nitrogen on yield and economics of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during kharif season 2023 at the experimental field of Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. The experiment was layout in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments each replicated thrice. The treatment combinations are mentioned as T1 -25 cm x 10 cm spacing + 30 kg/ha nitrogen, T2 - 25 cm x 10 cm spacing + 40 kg/ha nitrogen, T3 - 25 cm x 10 cm spacing + 50 kg/ha nitrogen, T4 - 30 cm x 10 cm spacing + 30 kg/ha nitrogen, T5 - 30 cm x 10 cm spacing + 40 kg/ha nitrogen, T6 - 30 cm x 10 cm spacing + 50 kg/ha nitrogen, T7 - 35 cm x 10 cm spacing + 30 kg/ha nitrogen, T8 - 35 cm x 10 cm spacing + 40 kg/ha nitrogen, T9 - 35 cm x 10 cm spacing + 50 kg/ha nitrogen, T10 – Control (NPK 40:20:20 kg/ha). The application of 35 cm x 10 cm spacing + 40 kg/ha nitrogen recorded significantly maximum number of seeds/ear head (181.33), test weight (2.50 g), grain yield (1.06 t/ha). It also recorded highest gross return (Rs 53190.00 INR/ha), net return (Rs 33540.50 INR/ha) and B:C ratio (1.71).