Influence of site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) on growth and yield of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in Vertisols under irrigated condition

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during rabi/summer 2021-2022 at Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa, Karnataka, India to study the influence of Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) in enhancing the yield of finger millet through target yield approach under irrigated condition in deep Vertisols. The experiment comprised of seven treatments allotted in randomized complete block design with five targeted yields viz., 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 q ha-1 along with RDF and control, each replicated thrice. Application of inorganic nutrients based on soil test for all the targeted yields resulted in higher growth and yield attributes of finger millet. The treatment targeting the yield of 50 q ha-1 (T7) recorded significantly higher growth characteristics like plant height, number of tillers, dry matter accumulation plant-1 and yield attributes like number of ear heads, length and weight of ear head, grain weight plant-1 and test weight. However, T7 was on par with the treatments targeting the yield of 45 q ha-1 (T6) and 40 q ha-1 (T5). Significantly higher grain yield (42.99 q ha-1) was registered in T7, but it was on par with T6 (42.46 q ha-1) and T5 (42.19 q ha-1). Further, significantly lower growth and yield attributes were noticed in RDF and control.