Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A field experiment entitled “Effect of cotton stalk biochar on growth and yield of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.)” was conducted during Kharif 2025 at the Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur. The study comprised eleven treatments including absolute control, recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), Farmyard manure and different levels of cotton stalk biochar with 100 and 75 per cent RDF, laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that 100 per cent RDF + 4.0 t ha⁻¹ cotton stalk biochar (T₇) recorded the highest grain yield (3743 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (6886 kg ha⁻¹), remaining on par with T₆ (100 per cent RDF + 3.0 t ha⁻¹ cotton stalk biochar). T₇ also recorded superior growth in terms of plant height (106.8 cm) and total dry matter production (38.53 g plant⁻¹), along with higher effective tillers (100.2 m⁻²), finger length (6.2 cm) and ear head weight (6.41 g). Total N, P and K uptake was highest in T₇, while N, P and K use efficiency recorded 69.1, 34.7 and 159.3 per cent, respectively. Post-harvest soil under T₇ recorded higher organic carbon (4.81 g kg⁻¹) and available N, P₂O₅ and K₂O (251.20, 43.44 and 361.34 kg ha⁻¹, respectively). Economically, T₇ recorded the highest gross returns (₹119,186 ha⁻¹), whereas T₆ recorded the highest net returns (₹80,275 ha⁻¹) and B: C ratio (3.19). Hence, integration of RDF with 3–4 t ha⁻¹ cotton stalk biochar improved productivity, nutrient utilization and soil fertility of finger millet.
Institution: University of Agricultural Sciences Raichur
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7204153826