Influence of fertilizer levels and plant spacing on growth and growth attributes of barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.)

Abstract

An experiment entitled “Response of Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) to Fertilizer Levels and Spacings” was conducted at P.G. Research Farm, Agronomy Section, RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur during the rabi season of 2023. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Fifteen treatment combinations including three plant spacing as main plot treatments, S1: 30 x 10 cm, S2: 45 x 10 cm and S3: 60 x 10 cm and five fertilizer levels as sub-plot treatments, F1: 125% RDF (50:25:00 N, P2O5, K2O Kg ha-1), F2: 100% RDF (40:20:00 N, P2O5, K2O Kg ha-1), F3: 75% RDF (30:15:00 N, P2O5, K2O Kg ha-1), F4: 100% GRDF (RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1), F5: Absolute Control and were used. The obtained result showed that the fertilizer level F1: 125% RDF (50:25:00 N, P2O5, K2O Kg ha-1) recorded higher growth attributing characters viz., plant height, number of tillers, dry matter accumulation followed by fertilizer level F4: 100% GRDF (RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1). Among the plant spacings S3: 60 x 10 cm yielded the best results for growth attributes like number of tillers, dry matter accumulation Whereas significantly superior plant height was observed at a plant spacing of S1: 30 x 10 cm against other plant spacing. Interaction effect between fertilizer levels and spacing was found significant in plant height, number of tillers, dry matter accumulation.