Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Productivity, Nutrient Uptake and Economics of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2018 at Bagusala Farm, of M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha to study the effect of integrated nutrient management in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) on yield attributes, productivity and nutrient uptake under south Odisha conditions. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with ten treatments and replicated thrice. The treatment combinations are T₁, control,T₂, FYM @ 4 t ha⁻¹, T₃ FYM @ 8 t ha⁻¹, T₄, 100% RDF (40:20:20 - N: P₂O₅: K₂O kg ha⁻¹), T₅, 50% RDF + 4 t FYM, T₆, 75% RDF + 2 t FYM, T₇, FYM 4 t ha⁻¹+ Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha⁻¹, T₈, FYM 8 t ha⁻¹ + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha⁻¹, T₉, 50% RDF + 4 t FYM + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha⁻¹, T₁₀, 75% RDF + 2 t FYM + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha⁻¹. Application of 100% RDF resulted in the highest yield components like number of effective tillers m⁻², number of grains ear head⁻¹, number of fingers ear head⁻¹, test weight and length of fingers which remained statistically at par with the application of chemical fertilizers along with the FYM and Azospirillum (T₁₀). The highest grain yield, straw yield and biological yield were achieved from the treatment with 100% RDF which was followed by application of 75% RDF + 2 t FYM + Azospirillum (T₁₀) and 75% RDF + 2 t FYM (T₆). However, the lowest values yield attributes and yields were recorded in control (no nutrients). Total nutrient (NPK) uptake by finger millet differed and it was found that application of 100% RDF recorded significantly higher nutrient uptake than other treatments. The lowest uptake of N, P and K was recorded in absolute control treatment.

Application of 100% RDF and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) are beneficial in enhancement of yield attributes and yield of finger millet along with N, P, K uptake by the crop.