Effect of nutrient management on yield and quality of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn)
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) is a staple food crop grown by subsistence farmers in red
sandy loam soils of North Coastal Zone and scarce rainfall zone of Andhra Pradesh. It is commonly
known as “Nutricereals” and is nutritionally superior to many cereals providing proteins, minerals,
calcium and vitamins in abundance and is highly valued by traditional farmers as it is nutritious, drought
tolerant, short duration and requires low inputs. High yielding varieties of finger millet require
comparatively large quantities of both macro and micronutrients and are expected to respond favourably
to their application. In view of this finger millet widely grown and commonly consumed in India was
explored as a vehicle for fortification with zinc and iron. A field experiment was conducted to study the
yield responses of finger millet pre released variety VR 900 to graded doses of inorganic fertilizers
(macronutrients and micronutrients) which has been shown to be important for early establishment of
finger millet. The experimental results indicated that significantly higher grain and straw yields of finger
millet were recorded in the treatment with 150% RDF+ZnSO4 0.5% foliar spray + FeSO4 0.2% foliar
spray (78.1q/ha and 33.7q/ha respectively). The highest available soil macronutrients and uptake of plant
macronutrients was also found in the same treatment. Whereas the highest available Zn in the soil was
found in the treatment 150% RDF+ZnSO4 soil application + FeSO4 0.2% foliar spray (3.32ppm), and the
highest available Fe in the treatment 150% RDF+ FeSO4 0.2% foliar spray (17.63ppm).
Authors: Sandhya Rani Y, U Triveni, Patro Tssk, N Anuradha
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2944516485