PERFORMANCE OF BROWNTOP MILLET (Brachiaria ramosa L.) UNDER VARIED PLANT GEOMERTY AND NITROGEN LEVELS
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Date
2024-03-06
Authors
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Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “PERFORMANCE OF BROWNTOP
MILLET (Brachiaria ramosa L.) UNDER VARIED PLANT
GEOMERTY AND NITROGEN LEVELS” was carried out during kharif,
2020 on sandy loam soils of dryland farm, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati
campus of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University. The present
experiment was laid out in a random block design with factorial concept and
replicated thrice. The treatments include three plant geometry viz., P1 (30 cm x
20 cm), P2 (45 cm x 20 cm) and P3 (60 cm x 20 cm) and four nitrogen levels,
viz., 20 kg N ha-1
(N1), 40 kg N ha-1
(N2), 60 kg N ha-1
(N3) and 80 kg N ha-1
(N4). The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam, alkaline in soil
reaction, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available
phosphorus and available potassium. The variety of browntop millet tested
was GPUBT-6.
Under varied plant geometry tested, higher growth parameters (plant
height, leaf area index, dry matter production and number of tillers m-2
) of
browntop millet were recorded with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm) plant geometry.
All the above mentioned growth parameters registered lower with P3 (60 cm x
20 cm) plant geometry. Application of 80 kg N ha-1
(N4) resulted in significant
improvement in the growth parameters at all the growth stages which was
however comparable with that of 60 kg N ha-1 (N3), while they were lowest
with 20 kg N ha-1 (N1). Based on the results, the interaction effect of the
treatments was not traceable on the growth parameters significantly.
The number of days to 50 per cent flowering and maturity were longer
with P3 (60 cm x 20 cm) followed by P2 (45 cm x 20 cm) and noticed shorter
with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm). Whereas in case of nitrogen levels tried, number of
days to 50 per cent flowering and maturity were observed minimum with 20
kg N ha-1 (N1) and maximum with 80 kg N ha-1 (N4ttributes except grain weight panicle-1 and panicle weight
plant-1 were maximum with application of 80 kg N ha-1 (N4) which was
comparable with 60 kg N ha-1 (N3) and significantly lower with 20 kg N ha-1
(N1). Grain yield, grain weight panicle-1 and panicle weight plant-1 were
significantly higher with 60 kg N ha-1 (N3) which was comparable with 80 kg
N ha-1 (N4). Higher straw yield was obtained with 80 kg N ha-1 (N4). All yield
attributes along with grain and straw yield were recorded lower with 20 kg N
ha-1 (N1). The interaction of plant geometry and nitrogen levels could not vary
the yield attributes and yield significantly.
Uptake of the nitrogen at harvest was significantly higher with P2 (45
cm x 20 cm) and lower with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm) with no significant disparity
between them. Whereas uptake of the phosphorus was maximum with P3 (60
cm x 20 cm) and minimum with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm). Higher uptake of the
potassium was observed with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm) and lower with P3 (60 cm x
20 cm) with no significant disparity between them. Application of 80 kg N ha 1 (N4) resulted in significantly higher nutrient (N, P and K) uptake, which was
comparable with that of 60 kg ha-1 (N3). The lowest nutrient uptake was
registered with 20 kg N ha-1 (N1).
Higher post-harvest soil available nutrients (N, P2O5 and K2O) were
noticed with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm) and lower with P3 (60 cm x 20 cm).
Significantly superior post-harvest soil available nitrogen status was observed
with 80 kg N ha-1 (N4) which was on par with 60 kg N ha-1 (N3), while the
lowest was noticed with 20 kg N ha-1 (N1). The highest soil available
phosphorus and potassium were recorded with application of 20 kg N ha-1 (N1)
whereas significantly lower with application of 80 kg N ha-1 (N4).
Gross returns, net returns and benefit-cost ratio were maximum with P2
(45 cm x 20 cm) plant geometry and lower with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm) plant
geometry. Application of 60 kg N ha-1
(N4) resulted in higher gross returns,
net returns and benefit-cost ratio which was comparable with 80 kg N ha-1
(N4) and lower with 20 kg N ha-1
(N1).
Based on the results of present study, it can be concluded that browntop
millet grown with P2 (45 cm x 20 cm) plant geometry along with application
of 60 kg N ha-1
(N3) resulted in higher productivity and economic returns on
sandy loam soils of Southern Agro-climatic Zone of Andhra Pradesh
ttributes except grain weight panicle-1 and panicle weight
plant-1 were maximum with application of 80 kg N ha-1 (N4) which was
comparable with 60 kg N ha-1 (N3) and significantly lower with 20 kg N ha-1
(N1). Grain yield, grain weight panicle-1 and panicle weight plant-1 were
significantly higher with 60 kg N ha-1 (N3) which was comparable with 80 kg
N ha-1 (N4). Higher straw yield was obtained with 80 kg N ha-1 (N4). All yield
attributes along with grain and straw yield were recorded lower with 20 kg N
ha-1 (N1). The interaction of plant geometry and nitrogen levels could not vary
the yield attributes and yield significantly.
Uptake of the nitrogen at harvest was significantly higher with P2 (45
cm x 20 cm) and lower with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm) with no significant disparity
between them. Whereas uptake of the phosphorus was maximum with P3 (60
cm x 20 cm) and minimum with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm). Higher uptake of the
potassium was observed with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm) and lower with P3 (60 cm x
20 cm) with no significant disparity between them. Application of 80 kg N ha 1 (N4) resulted in significantly higher nutrient (N, P and K) uptake, which was
comparable with that of 60 kg ha-1 (N3). The lowest nutrient uptake was
registered with 20 kg N ha-1 (N1).
Higher post-harvest soil available nutrients (N, P2O5 and K2O) were
noticed with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm) and lower with P3 (60 cm x 20 cm).
Significantly superior post-harvest soil available nitrogen status was observed
with 80 kg N ha-1 (N4) which was on par with 60 kg N ha-1 (N3), while the
lowest was noticed with 20 kg N ha-1 (N1). The highest soil available
phosphorus and potassium were recorded with application of 20 kg N ha-1 (N1)
whereas significantly lower with application of 80 kg N ha-1 (N4).
Gross returns, net returns and benefit-cost ratio were maximum with P2
(45 cm x 20 cm) plant geometry and lower with P1 (30 cm x 20 cm) plant
geometry. Application of 60 kg N ha-1
(N4) resulted in higher gross returns,
net returns and benefit-cost ratio which was comparable with 80 kg N ha-1
(N4) and lower with 20 kg N ha-1
(N1).
Based on the results of present study, it can be concluded that browntop
millet grown with P2 (45 cm x 20 cm) plant geometry along with application
of 60 kg N ha-1
(N3) resulted in higher productivity and economic returns on
sandy loam soils of Southern Agro-climatic Zone of Andhra Pradesh