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Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi
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ThesisItem Open Access WEED MANAGEMENT IN WET DIRECT SEEDED RICE(Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2018) PRINCE KUMAR GUPTA; Sheela BarlaDirect seeded rice coupled with early maturing variety has received much attention because of its low-input demand, encouraged many farmers in India to switch from transplanted rice to direct seeded rice culture. Weeds are considered to be limiting factor in harnessing full yield potentiality of rice. Hence present investigation was undertaken during kharif season of 2017 to evaluate the competing ability of different high yielding rice cultivar and methods of weed control to increase rice production. The present experiment was conducted in the Agronomical Research Farm of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand during kharif season of 2017.The experimental soil was clay loam in texture with low organic carbon (3.6 g/kg), moderately acidic (pH 5.7), having low available nitrogen (190.76 kg/ha), high phosphorus (31.33 kg/ha) and medium potassium (182.27 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with 4 weed management viz, weed free up to 15 days, weed free up to 30 days, weed free up to 45 days and weedy check. and 5 rice cultivar in sub plot i.e. DRR Dhan 44, DRR Dhan 45, DRR Dhan 46, RP Bio 226 and Swarna Shreya, altogether comprising 20 treatment combinations replicated three times. The crop was sown on 17 July 2017 with RDF 80:40:20 kg N:P2O5:K2O/ha and seed rate `60kg/ha. Weed free up to 45 days was found most effective in reducing weed density and weed dry weight, as it recorded 86.44% and 80.58 % lower than weedy check (210.44) resulting maximum weed control efficiency i.e. 80.53 per cent at maturity. Weed free up to 45 days recorded higher crop dry weight, grains/panicle, grain yield and harvest index to the tune of 58.32, 35.89, 60.70 and 8.65 percent higher as compared to their respective values under weedy check. Consequently recorded maximum net return (`61746/ha) and B: C ratio(1.63) and was 73.07% and 73.00% higher as compare to values under weedy check and also 15.64% and 15.33% higher as compared weed free upto 30 days. Rice cultivar DRR Dhan 46 recorded 38.28 and 20.40% reduced weed density and weed dry weight compared to cultivar Swarna Shreya resulting in maximum weed control efficiency i.e. 53.04 per cent at maturity. DRR Dhan 46 recorded higher crop dry weight ,grains/panicle, grain yield and harvest index to the extent of 29.84%, 16.37% , 30.26% and 3.25% as compare to Swarna Shreya i.e. 874.49 g/m2, 93.23, 3.41 t/ha, and 36.56% respectively consequently recorded higher net return (`59332 /ha) and B:C ratio(1.57). The combination of DRR Dhan 46 with weed free up 45 days recorded reduced weed dry weight to the extent of 88.96% as compared to lowest recorded with Swarna Shreya under weedy check, consequently maximum grains/panicle (138.17), 1000 grain weight (28.83g), yield (6.30t/ha), net return (`78082/ha) as well as B:C ratio (2.06). From the above findings it may be concluded that keeping Weed free up to 45 days in rice cultivar DRR Dhan 46 was found most suitable for obtaining maximum yield as well as profit in DSR method of cultivation.ThesisItem Open Access INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN FODDER OAT + LATHYRUS INTERCROPPING SYSTEM(Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2019) Tirkey, Niketa; Kumar, BirendraHuge livestock population of Indian subcontinent is not only a source of livelihood for poor, but also a source for human and crop nutrition. India supports nearly 20 % of the world livestock and 16.8 % human population on a land area of only 2.3 %. It is leader in cattle (16%) and buffalo (55%) population and has world’s second largest goat (20%) and fourth largest sheep (5%) population (ICAR, 2009). The livestock sector adds almost 32% of Agriculture output in India. But, the area under fodder cultivation is only 4 % of total cropped area. The area under fodder cultivation is only 8.3 m ha (4 % of total cropped area). At present, the country faces a net deficit of 61.1% green fodder and also recent population trends of India is not matching with the required trend of livestock growth rate (Datta, 2013). Cattles and other lactating animal needed balance quality diet (Tripathy et al., 2009). As feed and fodder contains about 60% of total cost of milk production (Singh, 2008), thus good quality of green fodder having sufficient nutritive value are the demand of the day. The present investigation entitled “Integrated Nutrient Management in fodder oat + lathyrus intercropping system” was carried out during Rabi season of 2017-2018 at forage research field situated at College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry of Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi with the objective to find out the effect of fodder oat+ lathyrus intercropping system and INM on growth, yield, quality and economics of green herbage. The experimental plot was well drained with a fairly uniform topography. The climate of the region is sub-humid. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with four cropping stems in main plot. sole oat, sole lathyrus, oat + lathyrus (3:2) and oat + lathyrus (3:3) and three integrated nutrient management as 100 per cent RDF (inorganic), 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N through FYM and 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N through vermicompost under Sub-plot. Inoculation of Rhizobium @ 500 g/ha in lathyrus and Azotobactor @ 500 g/ha in oat were carried through seed treatment. Bio- fertilizer (Azotobactor) having more than 108 CFUg-1 was used and seed treatment was carried with bavistin (fungicide) @ 2 g kg-1 of seed. Oat variety JHO-99-2 with a seed rate of 80 kg/ha and lathyrus variety ‘Mahateora’ with a seed rate of 50 kg/ha were sown at 25 cm R-R distance. RDF of oat and lathyrus were 60:40:20 and 30:40:20 kg N: P2O5: K2O/ha respectively. Result showed that oat + lathyrus (3:2), grown at 100 % RDF as inorganic recorded higher plant height (149.70 cm) of oat while longer vine length of lathyrus (103.67 cm) grown under 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost). Fodder oat equivalent yield (FOEY) 374.87 q/ha and productivity per day (green 5.20 & dry 1.52 q/ha/day) were recorded significantly more under oat + lathyrus (3:2) at 50 % N of RDF + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost). It was 143 % more than at 100 % RDF as inorganic. Crude protein content in fodder lathyrus (14.82%) was nearly 47.0 % more than fodder oat (10.06 %). Total crude protein yield (CPY) 12.09 qha-1 was obtained when lathyrus was sown with oat in 3:2 ratio at 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost). Organic carbon and soil pH were not influenced by intercropping system and nutrient management, while more available N, P and K were recorded under oat + lathyrus intercropping system when the crops were fertilized with 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost) Biological properties in terms of microbial population density (Azotobactor and Actinimycetes) was improved under sole lathyrus and 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost). oat + lathyrus (3:2) converted maximum gross return ( 74,975 ha-1) grown at 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost) while, B:C ratio (1.59) and profitability 653/ha/day were recorded under oat + lathyrus (3:2) at 100 % RDF as inorganic. On the basis of the findings of the experiment it may be concluded that, the fodder oat + lathyrus (3:2) grown at 50 % N of RDF as inorganic (60:40:20 kgha-1) + 50 % N through vermicompost under rice fallow will be beneficial to take maximum fodder production and monetary out come.ThesisItem Open Access NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SOYBEAN THROUGH NUTRIENT EXPERT BASED SSNM(Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2019) Kumari, Puja; Kumar Singh, ArvindSoybean (Glycine max L.) is the one of the important pulse cum oil seed crop among all the oilseed crops. It is the world’s first ranking crop as a source of vegetable oil. It helps in atmospheric nitrogen fixation in the soil and maintain the soil fertility and consequently beneficial effects on successive crops, so the crop is also called “Golden bean” or “Gold of soil”. It has been termed as miracle bean because of higher protein (40%) and oil (20%) content. It is called “Wonder crop” because it is the richest, cheapest and easiest source of best quality protein and fats and having a multiplicity of uses as food and industrial products but availability of protein for ever increasing population remained too less. In India the area under soybean cultivation was 10.6 million ha (2017-2018) and the production was 8.5 million t. But the productivity still remains low (about 802 kg/ha) though the crop has potential to harvest 2.5 – 3.0 t/ha. To meet out this increasing demand farmer use fertiliser according to recommended dose or follow their own practice. This can lead to degradation of soil physico-chemical properties lead to non-availability of nutrients to the plant at right time to the plants. Keeping these points in view, an experiment entitled “ Nutrient management in soybean through Nutrient Expert based SSNM” was conducted at BAU experimental farm Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand during Kharif season 2018 on sandy loam with low organic carbon (0.39 %) and available nitrogen (171.45 kg/ha), moderately acidic (pH 5.7) in nature, medium potassium (148.02 kg/ha) and phosphorus (18.12 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a RBD with 7 treatments - T1: SSNM (25:58:57 kg NPK/ha), T2: T1-N omission (00:58:57 kg NPK/ha), T3: T1-P omission (25:00:57 kg NPK/ha), T4: T1-K omission (25:58:00 kg NPK/ha) , T5: RDF (20:80:40 kg NPK/ha), T6: Farmers practice (23:58:00 kg NPK/ha) and T7: Absolute control, replicated thrice. The variety used was JS-97-52. All the parameters such as plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of branches, number and dry weight of nodules were recorded at 30, 60, 90 DAS and at harvest. The growth and yield attributing character viz. Plant height, no. of branches, dry matter accumulation (1.51g/plant at 30 DAS, 10.78g/plant at 60 DAS, 27.07g/plant at 90 DAS and 32.76g/plant at harvest) number of nodules and nodule dry weight, no of seeds/pods (3.07), pods/plant (68.17), grain yield (2643.48 kg/ha) and straw yield (4102.75 kg/ha) were found to be significantly higher in the treatment SSNM (25:58:57 kg NPK/ha) in comparison to other treatments except recommended dose of fertiliser (20:80:40 kg NPK/ha) which was at par with SSNM. In terms of economics SSNM have lower cost of cultivation (Rs 24,360/ha), higher gross return (Rs.89878.23/ha), net return (Rs. 65518.23/ha) and highest B:C ratio than RDF. Hence, based on one year of experimentation it may be concluded that application of nutrient based on SSNM (25:58:57 kg NPK/ha) is equally effective but economically better than RDF (20:80:40 kg NPK/ha) and maintains fertility. So it can be applied for higher productivity of soybean in agro-ecological condition of Jharkhand.ThesisItem Open Access NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN RICE ESTABLISHMENT METHODS(Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2019) Bharti, Jaya; Kumar Singh, AshokRice (Oryza sativa L.) is the world’s most important crop and primary source of food for more than half of the world’s population. At the current population growth rate (1.5 percent), the requirement of rice by the year 2025 would be around 125 million tons. The possibility of expanding the area under rice is limited in near future. Therefore, there is a need of productivity gain with good management practices. Rice is grown mostly through transplanting in India, in spite of the fact that transplanting is cumbersome practice and requires more labour. In such circumstances, dry direct seeding or wet direct seeding through drum seeder may be an alternative to transplanting in boosting the rice production. Nutrient management is also a major component of soil and crop management system which increases the productivity of rice. Knowing the required nutrients for all stages of growth and understanding the soil's ability to supply them is critical for profitable crop production. Keeping these points in view an experiment on “Nutrient management in rice establishment methods” was conducted at Rice Research Farm of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, during Kharif -2018 with the objectives to find out the effect of rice establishment methods and nutrient management practices on growth, yield attributes, yield, nutrient uptake and economics of rice. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design replicated thrice with variety Naveen. The treatments comprised of three different rice establishment methods viz., normal transplanting (M1) , wet direct seeding using drum seeder ( M2) and aerobic rice (M3) assigned to main plots and five nutrient management practices viz., RDF( 80:40:20 Kg NPK/ha - F1), 75% RDF + 25% N through FYM (60:30:15 kg NPK/ha + 20 kg N through FYM - F2) , RDF + 25% N through FYM (80:40:20 kg NPK/ha + 20 kg N through FYM - F3) , LCC based Nitrogen application (F4) and Control (No fertilizer) (F5) assigned to sub plots . The soil was clay loam in texture and slightly acidic (6.2) in reaction, medium in organic carbon (4.3 g) and available nitrogen (230.00 kg/ha), phosphorous (36.8 kg/ha) and potassium (161.20 kg/ha). Results revealed that growth parameters i.e. total tillers/m2 at maturity and dry matter accumulation at maturity was maximum in wet direct seeding using drum seeder (267 and 1292.20 g/m2 respectively). Among the different nutrient management practices RDF + 25% N through FYM produced maximum total tillers/m2 (284) and dry matter accumulation (1406.67 g/m2) at maturity. The leaf area index (3.58) and crop growth rate (8.53 g/m2/day) was also maximum in wet direct seeding using drum seeder at 90 DAS/T and 90 DAS/T- maturity respectively. RDF + 25% N through FYM (3.77) and LCC based N application being at par among themselves produced maximum leaf area index (3.75) at maturity. Yield attributing characters ie. Panicles/m2 (251), Panicle weight (3.38 g) and number of fertile grains/panicle (109) was also recorded maximum in wet direct seeded rice using drum seeder which were at par with normal transplanting but significantly superior to aerobic rice. Among the different nutrient management practices RDF + 25% N through FYM produced maximum Panicle/m2 (277), Panicle weight (3.60 g) and fertile grains/panicle (118) and was comparable with LCC based N application. Grain yield and straw yield also followed the similar trend as yield attributing characters. Wet direct seeding of rice using drum seeder recorded maximum grain yield (42.19 q/ha) and straw yield (65.22 q/ha) which were comparable with transplanting method but were significantly superior to aerobic rice. Among the nutrient management practices , RDF + 25% N through FYM produced maximum grain yield (46.33 q/ha) and straw yield (71.53 q/ha ) which was significantly better than rest of the treatments except LCC based N application. The nutrient uptake of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium was recorded maximum in wet direct seeded rice using drum seeder and in the plot treated with RDF +25% N through FYM. Among the different establishment methods wet direct seeding of rice using drum seeder recorded maximum net return (58337 `/ha) which is significantly better than rest of the treatments. The B : C ratio was also maximum with wet direct seeding using drum seeder (2.00) which is significantly at par with aerobic rice (1.93). Among the various nutrient management practices the higher net return (64030 `/ha) and B:C ratio (2.28) was recorded with LCC based N application.ThesisItem Open Access Performance of Rice and Wheat Varieties for Higher Productivity in Rice-wheat System Under Organic Farming(Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6, 2018) Kumar, Manoj; Singh, C.S.ThesisItem Open Access PRECISION NITROGEN MANAGEMENT IN IRRIGATED WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)(Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6, 2018) ., Sulochna; Alam, P.Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is known as king of cereals. It is an important cereal crop for the majority of habitants on the earth. Wheat is the most important staple food for 36% of the world population. It is cultivated in all the continents of the world. Wheat crop is fertilizer responsive and exhibit full yield potential when supplied with adequate quantities of nitrogenous fertilizer. The farmers of Jharkhand are compelled to use either insufficient dose of N-fertilizer due to poor economic status or excessive dose of N-fertilizer because of poor knowhow. Therefore, nitrogenous fertilizers should be applied in right quantities and at right time. Keeping these points in view the present investigation was carried out. A field experiment entitled “Precision Nitrogen Management in Irrigated Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)” was carried out on sandy loam soil, slightly acidic in reaction(pH 5.5), having low organic carbon (0.32%) and available nitrogen (175.6 kg/ha) with medium available phosphorus (15.38 kg/ha) and exchangeable potassium (183.46 kg/ha) during Rabi 2017-18 at Birsa Agricultural University Farm, Ranchi. The experiment was laid out in RBD with 12 treatments replicated thrice. The wheat variety was HD2967, seed rate was 125 kg/ha and date of sowing was 25-11-2017. The treatments comprising of: T1- absolute control, T2 to T4 - application of 120 kg N in two and three split doses, T5 to T7 - application of 150 kg N in two and three split doses, T8 to T10 - application of 180 kg N in two and three split doses and T11 andT12 (guided by Greenseeker by NDVI technique taken at 45DAS and 65DAS) were applied with 136 kg N and 140 kg N in three spilt doses respectively. The two splits consisted of at sowing + at CRI and three splits consisted of at sowing + at CRI + at tillering stage. Results revealed that N-Management as 180 kg N in three split dose produced significantly taller plant (110.67 cm) whereas higher total number of tillers(424.5), dry matter (1307.5 g/m2) and crop growth rate (8.14 g/m2/day) were found by the application of 140 kg N in three split dose. Precision N-Management guided by Greenseeker in 140 kg N in three split dose recorded significantly higher yield attributing characters namely effective tillers/m2 (410.56), spike length (12.96 cm), spikelets/spike (21.66), filled grains/spike (53.10), unfilled grains/spike (2.56) and 1000 grain weight (42.80 g). Grain yield (48.39 q/ha), straw yield (71.22 q/ha), cost of cultivation (` 31848/ha), gross return (` 87543/ha), net return (` 55694/ha) and B:C ratio 1.75 were found to be maximum in 140 kg N in three split dose. Application of 140 kg N in three split dose increased the nitrogen content in grain (1.959 %) and in straw (0.565 %), phosphorus content in grain (0.362 %) and in straw (0.077 %), potassium content in grain (0.495 %) and in straw (1.605 %), nitrogen uptake in grain (94.63 kg/ha) and in straw (40.53 kg/ha), phosphorus uptake in grain (17.50 kg/ha) and in straw (5.50 kg/ha) and potassium uptake in grain (23.95 kg/ha) and in straw (115.09 kg/ha). Improved nitrogen use efficiency was obtained due to application of N-Management based on Greenseeker optical sensor which was determined in terms of agronomic efficiency, recovery efficiency and physiological efficiency. Agronomic efficiency (19.68%) and recovery efficiency (53.46%) were significantly maximum in 140 kg N in three split dose however physiological efficiency was highest (48.14%) in 120 kg N in two split dose. Hence, on the basis of one year data it can be concluded that application of 140 kg N in three split doses i.e. 30 kg N as basal, 60 kg N at CRI and Greenseeker guided nitrogen application of 40 kg at 45 DAS (second irrigation) and 10 kg at 65 DAS (third irrigation) recorded the highest grain yield (48.39 q/ha), straw yield (71.72 q/ha), net return (` 55694/ha) and B:C ratio (1.75). Also application of Greenseeker (NDVI technique) under precision nitrogen management increased the agronomic efficiency from 13.06% to 19.68% and recovery efficiency from 33.73% to 53.46% with a saving of 10 kg N in comparison to 150 kg N.ThesisItem Open Access NITROGEN MANAGEMENT IN TRANSPLANTED RICE (Oryza sativa L.) THROUGH NEEM COATED UREA(Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6, 2018) Kumar, Kuldeep; Singh, Arvind Kr.Rice is the most important cereal grain in the world, constituting the dietary staple food for more than half of the planet’s human population. In world, rice has been occupying an area of 158.89 million hectares, with a total production of 471.83 million tonnes. India is the second largest producer after China has an area of over 43.50 million hectare with production 104.4 million tonnes with productivity 3.60 tonnes/ha of rice (FAO, 2016). In Jharkhand, rice is grown in about 1.51 million ha with production of 3.16 million tonnes and productivity of 2.9 tonnes/ha which is far behind national average (3.60 t/ha). To maintain self-sufficiency, annual production of rice needs to increase by 2 million tonnes every year. In Jharkhand, generally rice is grown by transplanting during wet season. N fertilizer applied to rice crops is partially lost through different mechanisms, including ammonia volatilization, de-nitrification and leaching. Neem Coated Urea (NCU) applied to rice can result in high N use efficiency as it contains nitrification inhibition properties. In rice ecosystem about 60-70% of the applied nitrogen gets lost due to different losses viz., leaching, volatilization etc. The increase in nitrogen use efficiency by 1% will lead to a substantial increase in rice productivity. A field experiment entitled “Nitrogen Management in Transplanted Rice (Oryza sativa L.) through Neem Coated Urea” was conducted during Kharif 2016 at Agricultural farm, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, with an objective to study the effect of rate and time of application of neem coated urea on growth, yield attributes and yields, and nitrogen uptake as well as available soil NPK status after harvest of rice. The experiment was laid out in Randomize Block Design with nine treatments i.e. T1 -100 % PU 1/3rd basal + 1/3rd Max. Tillering + 1/3rd PI, T2- 75 % NCU 1/3rd basal + 1/3rd Max. Tillering + 1/3rd PI, T3- 100 % NCU 1/3rd basal + 1/3rd Max. Tillering + 1/3rd PI, T4- 125 % NCU 1/3rd basal + 1/3rd Max. Tillering + 1/3rd PI, T5- 100 % NCU 1/2nd basal + 1/2nd Max. Tillering, T6- 100 % NCU 3/4th basal + 1/4th Max. Tillering, T7- 100 % NCU 1/4th basal + 3/4th Max. Tillering, T8-100 % NCU basal and T9- Control. The treatments were replicated thrice with medium duration rice variety Naveen. Result revealed that growth and yield attributes viz. plant height, total tillers, dry matter accumulations, CGR, maximum panicles/m2, grains/panicle, fertile grains/panicle and 1000 grain weight recorded significantly better with application of 125 % NCU 1/3rd basal + 1/3rd Max. Tillering + 1/3rd PI than all the treatments but was found at par with treatment T3 and T2. It was also observed that application of 125 % NCU 1/3rd basal + 1/3rd Max. Tillering + 1/3rd PI recorded maximum grain yield (56.70 q/ha), straw yield (82.10 q/ha), harvest index (40.84) net return (Rs`64764) and B: C ratio (2.21) which was better than all the treatments except 100 % NCU 1/3rd basal + 1/3rd Max. Tillering + 1/3rd PI and 75 % NCU 1/3rd basal + 1/3rd Max. Tillering + 1/3rd PI. Based on one year of experimentation it may be concluded that application of 90 kg N through neem coated urea (75 % RDN) as 1/3rd basal + 1/3rd maximum tillering + 1/3rd panicle initiation stage along with 60 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O may be economically viable option for transplanted rice variety Naveen.ThesisItem Open Access PERFORMANCE OF FINGER MILLET (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) UNDER INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES(Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6, 2018) Roy, Ashok Kumar; Ali, NaiyarFinger millet (Eleusine coracana) is commonly known as ragi or marua. Finger millet is important minor millet grown in India. It is 6th important crop of India after rice, wheat, maize, sorghum and barley. Nutritionally, finger millet is good source of nutrients especially of calcium, other minerals and fibre. Wide adaptations, easy cultivation, free from major pests and diseases and drought tolerance have made this crop an indispensable component of dry farming system. Integrated Nutrient Management in crop production is gaining importance now-a-days among farmers in rainfed agro ecosystems of Jharkhand because it provides direct and indirect benefits and assured livelihood security to the farming community. Keeping this point in view, the present research was taken up to develop an INM technology for direct sown finger millet under rain fed condition. A field experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2016 at Birsa Agricultural University, Farm, Kanke, entitled “Performance of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) under integrated nutrient management practices” in Randomized Block Design with 10 treatments replicated thrice. The objectives were to study growth, yield, yield attributes, nutrient uptake and economics of finger millet production under integrated nutrient management practices. The soil of experimental site was sandy loam, acidic in reaction (pH 5.4), low in available nitrogen (232.47 kg/ha), medium in available phosphorus (14.30 kg/ha) and potassium (131.84 kg/ha). Ragi cultivar A404 was of medium duration with seed rate 10 kg/ha. Results revealed that application of FYM (10 t/ha) + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus spp. + Psuedomonas flurosence @ 20 g/kg seed each) + ZnSO4 (12.5 kg/ha) + Borax (5kg/ha) + 100% RDF recorded maximum growth parameters viz., no. of tillers/m2 (133.3), leaf area index (4.35) and CGR (18.21 g/m2/day) at 90 DAS whereas plant height (127.2 cm) and dry matter accumulation (1220.7 g/m2) were at maturity. It was also observed that application of FYM (10 t/ha) + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus spp. + Psuedomonas flurosence @ 20 g/kg seed each) + ZnSO4 (12.5 kg/ha) + Borax (5kg/ha) + 75% RDF recorded higher effective tillers/m2 (111.72), weight of ear (8.57 g), finger length (7.40 cm), no. of grains/ear (1203) and grain yield (3773.7 kg/ha). Total uptake of N and P by the crop was higher with application FYM (10t/ha) + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus spp. + Psuedomonas flurosence @ 20 g/kg seed each) + ZnSO4 (12.5 kg/ha) + Borax (5kg/ha) + 75% RDF and was followed by application of FYM (10 t/ha) + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus spp. + Psuedomonas flurosence @ 20 g/kg seed each) + ZnSO4(12.5 kg/ha) + Borax (5kg/ha) + 100% RDF whereas total uptake of K was higher with application of FYM (10 t/ha) + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus spp. + Psuedomonas flurosence @ 20 g/kg seed each) + ZnSO4 (12.5 kg/ha) + Borax (5kg/ha) + 100% RDF. Highest net return ( 52272/ha) and B: C ratio (2.55) were recorded with the application of FYM (10 t/ha) + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus spp. + Psuedomonas flurosence @ 20 g/kg seed each) + ZnSO4 (12.5 kg/ha) + Borax (5kg/ha) + 75% RDF. On the basis of one year experimentation, it may be concluded that application of FYM (10 t/ha) + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum brasilense + Bacillus spp. + Psuedomonas flurosence @ 20 g/kg seed each) + ZnSO4 (12.5 kg/ha) + Borax (5kg/ha) + 75% RDF is the better INM practice for finger millet cultivation for higher grain yield and economic return under rainfed condition of Jharkhand.ThesisItem Open Access PERFORMANCE OF FINGER MILLET (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) UNDER DIFFERENT CROP ESTABLISHMENT METHODS(Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6, 2018) Kumar, Chandan; Kumari, NargisFinger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) is an important cereal crop for subsistence agriculture in dry areas of Eastern Africa, India and Sri Lanka. It is the 6th important crop of India after rice, wheat, maize, sorghum and barley. The grain of finger millet is rich in amino acids. It is also a rich source of calcium, iron, protein, fibre and other minerals which are all crucial for human health. It is an important dryland crop due to its resilience and ability to withstand aberrant weather conditions and generally grown in soils having poor water holding capacity and nutrient supplying capacity. Therefore, upland rice can be easily replaced by finger millet under dryland areas. The production level of finger millet is low due to lack of many monetary and nonmonetary inputs, because it is cultivated traditionally by broadcasting in most of the cases and behind the plough to some extent but with low inputs under uplands situation. It results low production and productivity of finger millet. Important reasons are low organic matter in soil, lack of suitable variety and faulty or not suitable crop establishment methods. Among them, crop establishment method is one of the most important non-monetary input to increase production per unit area of finger millet. Keeping this point in view the present investigation was taken up. A field experiment was conducted during Kharif (2016) at Farm, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, to study the “Performance of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) under different crop establishment methods” with objectives to study growth, yield attributes, yield, nutrient uptake and economics of finger millet production under different crop establishment methods. The soil of experimental site was sandy loam, acidic in reaction (pH- 5.3) and low in available nitrogen (278 Kg ha-1) and medium in phosphorus (13 Kg ha-1) and potassium (129 Kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 7 treatments comprising of T1 : Transplanting 2-3 seedlings per hill in flat bed at 30 cm x 10 cm, T2 : Transplanting 2-3 seedlings per hill in furrow bed at 30 cm x 10 cm, T3 : Square planting 2-3 seedlings per hill at 30 cm x 30 cm, T4 : square planting 2-3 seedlings per hill at 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm, T5 : Transplanting 13 days old seedlings at 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm and 1 seedling per hill, T6 : Direct sowing 1-2 seeds per hill at 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm, T7: Sowing through seed drill at 30 cm x 10 cm. The treatments were replicated thrice with medium duration variety A -404 having seed rate 10 kg ha-1. Results revealed that transplanting of 13 days old seedlings at 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm spacing and 1 seedling per hill (T5) recorded significantly maximum value of growth parameters viz; no. of tillers m-2 (115.23), leaf area index (3.50), CGR (15.63 g m-2 day-1) at 90 DAS whereas plant height (110.2 cm.) and dry matter accumulation (1018.45 g m-2) at maturity. It was also observed that transplanting of 13 days old seedlings at 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm spacing and 1 seedling per hill (T5) recorded significantly maximum effective tillers m-2 (110.72), weight of ear (9.36 g), ear length (6.35 cm), no. of grain per ear (2623) and yielded significantly the highest grain ( 3205 Kg ha-1) and straw ( 6458 Kg ha-1) yield, being at par with square planting at 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm spacing with 2-3 seedlings per hill (T4). Regarding nutrient uptake (N, P, K) by the crop it was significantly maximum 54.6, 14.6, 65.7 Kg ha-1 in establishment method of transplanting 13 days old seedlings at 22.5 m x 22.5 cm spacing (T5), which was comparable to square planting 2-3 seedlings per hill at 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm spacing (T4). Similarly significantly highest net return (36191 ₹ ha-1) and B: C ratio were observed with the same establishment method (T5). On the basis of one year experimentation, it may be concluded that transplanting of 13 days old seedlings at 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm spacing and 1 seedling per hill is the best crop establishment method for finger millet cultivation and can be practiced with recommended dose of fertilizer @ 50: 30: 25 (N: P: K Kg ha-1) for better crop growth, higher productivity and profitability under rainfed condition of Jharkhand.
