Effect of organic manures and planting geometry on growth and yield of little millet (Panicum sumatrense L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season 2023 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.) to study the “Effect of organic manures and planting geometry on growth and yield of little millet”. The treatments consisted of organic manures (FYM, Neem Cake, Poultry Manure) and three levels of planting geometry (20 cm x 10 cm, 20 cm x 15 cm, 25cm x 25 cm). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 9 treatments and replicated thrice. The result revealed that application of neem cake in a spacing of 25 cm x 25 cm (Treatment 6) recorded significant and higher plant height (82.57 cm), maximum number of tillers/hill (8.67), higher plant dry weight (15.16 g), maximum number of effective tillers/hill (8.60) higher spike length (28.87 cm), maximum number of grains/spike (432). The data also recorded the highest cost of cultivation (49750 INR/ha) gross return (89,052.77 INR/ha), net return (56,022.77 INR/ha), and B: C ratio (1.70).