NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN FINGER MILLET (Eleusine coracana L.) UNDER Melia azedarach BASED AGRI-SILVI SYSTEM
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Date
2014
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ACHARYA N. G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY. RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “Nutrient management in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) under Melia azedarach based agri-silvi system” was conducted during kharif, 2013 at agroforestry research block, Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University campus, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. The experimental soil was sandy loam texture with pH (7.57), EC (0.195 dS m-1) and OC (0.75 %). The soil was medium in available nitrogen (259.2 kg ha-1), phosphorus (40.85 kg ha-1) and high in available potassium (352.1 kg ha-1). This experiment was laid out in a Randomized block design and replicated thrice treatments comprised of T1 FYM 10 t ha-1, T2 100% RDF (40:20:20 - N: P2O5: K2O kg ha-1), T3 75% RD N + 25% N FYM, T4 75% RD N + 25% N Vermicompost, T5 75% RD N + 25% N Poultry manure, T6 75% RD N + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1, T7 75% RD N + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1, T8 75% RD N + Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 and T9 Sole crop without trees. The results revealed that, integrated nutrient management practices in finger millet significantly influenced the growth and physiological parameters, yield attributes, nutrient content and uptake (NPK), organic carbon and available nutrient status (NPK).
Plant height, dry matter production, productive tillers m-2, number of fingers earhead-1, finger length, weight of grains earhead-1, test weight were significantly superior at all growth stages with 75% RD N + 25% N poultry manure and 100% RDF on par with sole crop without trees over control. Physiological parameters LAI, SPAD, CGR, RGR and NAR were increased at growth stages of crop under sole cropping followed by 75% RD N + 25% N poultry manure and 100% RDF over control.
The highest grain (2681 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5063 kg ha-1) resulted with sole crop on par with 75% RD N + 25% N poultry manure (2405 and 4733 kg ha-1) and 100% RDF (2393 and 4745 kg ha-1). The lowest grain (1583 kg ha-1) and straw yield (3402 kg ha-1) was found with control FYM @ 10 t ha-1.
Among the nutrient management practices, 75% RD N + 25% N poultry manure (0.77, 0.151, 2.64%) and 100% RDF (0.76, 0.150, 2.62) on par with sole crop (0.82, 0.152, 2.68) significantly increased NPK content at harvest respectively over control.
The NPK content in grain at harvest was found highest with integrated use of 75% RD N + 25% N poultry manure (1.31, 0.264, 0.47%) and 100% RDF (1.28, 0.257, 0.47%) on par with sole crop (1.32, 0.265, 0.43%).The total NPK uptake by finger millet resulted highest in sole crop without trees (76.94, 12.44, 148.50 kg ha-1) over control (45.72, 6.95, 80.80 kg ha-1).
Soil pH and EC were not influenced significantly by integrated nutrient management practices. In case of OC content slight built up (0.88%) was found with conjoint use of 75% RD N and 25% N poultry manure and on par 100% RDF (0.87%) with sole crop (0.92%). Regarding available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were increased significantly in 75% RD N + 25% N poultry manure(291.84, 39.04, 355.34 kg ha-1) and 100% RDF (283.94, 38.72, 354.79 kg ha-1) on par with sole crop (316.97, 37.76, 366.06 kg ha-1) compared to control (213.25, 27.94, 322.55 kg ha-1).
Tree parameters (tree height, girth, canopy spread) and tree-crop interactions (percent decrease in light penetration) were found to be non-significant with regard to nutrient management practices followed in finger millet crop.
Gross monetary returns ( 42,747 ha-1), net monetary returns ( 26,987 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.71) were highest with sole crop followed by 100% RDF and 75% RD N + 25% N poultry manure compared to other treatment combinations.
From the present investigation, it can be inferred that, among nutrient management practices tested, 75% RD N + 25% N poultry manure and 100% RDF in agri-silvi culture system was better for realizing higher growth parameters, yield attributes, grain yield, straw yield, nutrient content and economic returns apart from sustaining better soil nutrient status on sandy loam soils of Southern Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh.
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Keywords
NUTRIENT, MANAGEMENT, FINGER MILLET, AGRI-SILVI