Influence of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and economics of foxtail millet

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2023 on foxtail millet at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur (M.S.). The soil of the experimental plot was clayey in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 7.7), low in available nitrogen (246.90 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (19.07 kg ha-1) and high in available potassium (366.34 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with seven treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments viz., T1- 100% RDF (NPK- 40:20:20 kg ha-1), T2- 75% RDN + 25% RDN through Vermicompost (VC), T3- 75% RDN + 25% RDN through FYM, T4- 75% RDN + 25% RDN through Goat Manure (GM) and T5- 50% RDN + 50% RDN through Vermicompost (VC), T6- 50% RDN + 50% RDN through FYM and T7- 50% RDN + 50% RDN through Goat Manure (GM). The result revealed that integration of inorganic and organic manures of 75% RDN + 25% RDN through Vermicompost (T2) resulted in higher growth attributes viz., plant height (150.50 cm), dry matter accumulation plant-1 (26.98 g) and leaf area plant-1 (6.44 dm2) and yield attributes viz., no. of effective tillers plant-1 (6.00), length of panicle (15.83 cm) and grain weight (9.77 g plant-1) at harvest. Test weight (3.20g) was not influenced by integrated nutrient management practices. Application of 75% RDN + 25% RDN through Vermicompost (T2) recorded significantly higher grain yield (2183 kg ha-1), straw yield (4283 kg ha-1) and harvest index (HI) (33.75%) and it was at par with treatment of 100% RDF (T1) and 75% RDN + 25% RDN through Goat Manure (T4) over other combinations of organic and inorganic treatments in both growth and yield attributes. In economics, higher gross returns (Rs. 89337 ha-1) was recorded in treatment 75% RDN + 25% RDN through Vermicompost (T2) while net returns (Rs. 54969 ha-1) and higher B:C ratio (2.95) were observed in application of 100% RDF (T1).