M Sc

The study entitled “Productivity and nutritional quality of finger millet
(Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) as influenced by integrated nutrient management” was
undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2019 – 2021. The main
objectives were to assess the effect of integrated nutrient management on the growth,
yield and nutritional quality of finger millet and to work out the economics.
The field experiment carried out from January to April 2021, was laid out in
randomised block design with 10 treatments, replicated thrice. The treatments
comprised combinations of five levels of substitution (s1 : 100 % RDF (recommended
dose of fertilizers) as inorganic; s2 : 75 % RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen) as
inorganic + 25 % RDN as vermicompost; s3 : 50 % RDN as inorganic + 50 % RDN as
vermicompost; s4 : 25 % RDN as inorganic + 75 % RDN as vermicompost; s5 : 100 %
RDF as organic, half each as vermicompost and farmyard manure respectively on
nitrogen equivalent basis) and two levels of biofertilizer (b0 : without PGPR Mix-I; b1
: with PGPR Mix-I). The finger millet variety used for the study was PPR 2700
(Vakula) and the fertilizer recommendation was 45: 22.5: 22.5 kg NPK ha-1
.
The results of the study revealed that plant height and tiller count recorded with
s1 and s2 were significantly higher and comparable, at 30 DAS and 60 DAS. The
treatment s1 resulted in significantly higher leaf area index (LAI) at 30 DAS (0.542),
60 DAS (3.187) and at harvest (4.087), and was followed by s2. While the crop reached
50 per cent flowering stage earlier (56.33 days) in s1, it took longer to flower (60.33
days) in s5 (100% RDF as organic). The treatment s4 recorded significantly higher total
dry matter production (DMP) (4270 kg ha-1
) at harvest and remained at par with s2
(4048 kg ha-1
).
Application of PGPR Mix-I (b1) resulted in significantly taller plants with
superior tiller production and LAI at 30 DAS (54.68 cm, 2.16 tillers per plant, 0.515),
60 DAS (86.03 cm, 3.31 tillers per plant, 3.039) and at harvest (93.25 cm, 4.49 tillers
per plant, 3.986). Total DMP at harvest (3975 kg ha-1
) was also superior with b1.
Interaction effect was significant for LAI at harvest, with s1b1 (4.327) and s2b1 (4.237)
remaining comparable.
The number of productive tillers per plant, fingers per ear, grain yield per plant
and grain yield ha-1 were significantly higher (2.22, 8.73, 6.18g, 1381 kg ha-1
) in s2
(75% RDN as inorganic + 25% as vermicompost). The treatment s4, resulted in
significantly higher straw yield (3693 kg ha-1
) and was on a par with s2. Yield attributes
and yield responded significantly (2.11, 8.47, 6.08 g, 1389 kg ha-1
) to the application
of PGPR Mix-I (b1). The treatment combination, s2b1 recorded significantly higher
grain yield (1504 kg ha-1
). Significantly higher harvest index was recorded with s1
(0.31) and b1 (0.30).
Partial factor productivity (PFP) of nitrogen was found to be significantly higher
(30.68 kg kg-1
) in s2. While physiological efficiency of nitrogen was superior with s1
(38.01 kg kg-1
), apparent recovery efficiency (ARE) was higher (0.66 kg kg-1
) with s4.
Application of PGPR Mix-I (b1) resulted in higher PFP (30.87 kg kg-1
), agronomic
efficiency (AE) (21.79 kg kg-1
) and ARE (0.61 kg kg-1
) for nitrogen. Among the
interactions, PFP of nitrogen was significantly higher (33.42 kg kg-1
) in s2b1. The
treatment combination, s5b1 (100 % RDF as organic + PGPR Mix-I) recorded
significantly higher AE for nitrogen (24.16 kg kg-1
).
Significantly higher uptake of nitrogen (46.23 kg ha-1
), phosphorus (10.38 kg
ha-1
) and potassium (49.28 kg ha-1
) were observed in s4. The treatments, s4 and s2
remained at par with respect to nitrogen uptake. Nitrogen uptake (46.38 kg ha-1
) and
phosphorus uptake (9.65 kg ha-1
) were significantly higher with the application of
PGPR Mix-I. The treatment combination, s4b1 (25% RDN as inorganic + 75% as
vermicompost + PGPR Mix-I) recorded significantly higher phosphorus uptake (10.65
kg ha-1
). It was comparable with s4b0 and followed by s2b1. Post-harvest analysis did
not show any significant variation in the soil chemical properties.
Energy content in grains was higher (257 Kcal 100g-1
) in s1 and s2. Calcium
content was significantly higher (331mg 100g-1
) in s4. The content of phytate and
polyphenols were superior in s1 (638.66mg 100g-1
) and s2 (102.67mg 100g-1
)
respectively. Application of PGPR Mix-I had no significant effect on the nutritional
quality of finger millet. The treatment combination s4b0 yielded significantly higher
calcium in grains (331.34mg 100g-1
) and was on a par with s4b1, s3b0, s5b1, s2b1 and
s5b0.
Significantly higher net returns and benefit cost ratio (BCR) were recorded with
s1 (₹23079 ha-1
, 1.60) and b1 (₹12172 ha-1
, 1.27). The treatment combinations s1b1, s1b0
and s2b1 were comparable.
Integrating organics with inorganics was observed to improve the nutritional
quality of finger millet. Considering the yield and comparable economics, application
of 75 per cent RDN as inorganic in conjunction with 25 per cent RDN as vermicompost
on nitrogen equivalent basis, supplemented with PGPR Mix-I (talc based formulation
at 30 kg ha-1
in three splits- basal, 15 DAS, 30 DAS) could be recommended for the
cultivation of finger millet during the summer season in southern Kerala.