Effect of biofertilizers and micronuturients on growth and yield of Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.)

Abstract

A field experiment laid out in a Randomized block design with 10 treatments and replicated thrice in Zaid season of 2024-25 at Crop Research Farm, Naini Agricultural Instiute, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (UP) on the topic “Effect of biofertilizers and micronutrients on growth and yield of foxtail millet”. The treatments consisting of three levels of Biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum at 20 g/kg seeds and Pseudomonas fluorences at 10 g/kg) along with three different Micronutrients (Zinc at 15 kg/ha, Boron at 5kg/ha, Iron at 6kg/ha) Soil application and one control (100%RDF). There were 10 treatments, each replicated thrice. Results revealed that higher plant height (84.2 cm), plant dry weight (20.31 g), number of tillers per plant (4.53), length of ear (9.28 cm), number of grains per ear (266.27) test weight (3.46 g), Grain yield (1464.34 kg/ha), straw yield (2794.13 kg/ha), Harvest index (34.38%), highest gross return (131,760 INR/ha), net returns (85116 INR, ha), and benefit cost ratio (1.82) were obtained by the application of Azotobacter at 20 g/kg+ Feso4 at 6 kg/ha+ Znso4 at 15 kg/ha(T9).