Effect of fertilizer doses and foliar application of NPK on growth and yield of Finger millet (Eleusie coracana L. Gaertn)

Abstract:

The present investigation entitled "Effect of fertilizer doses and foliar application of NPK on growth and yield of Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn)" was conducted during the Kharif season of 2025 at the Instructional Farm, Barrister Thakur Chhedilal College of Agriculture and Research Station, Sarkanda, Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with seven treatments and three replications using the variety CG Ragi-2. Different combinations of recommended fertilizer dose (RDF) and foliar application of NPK (19:19:19) were evaluated. The results showed that T₃ (100% RDF + NPK (19:19:19) foliar spray once at 30 DAS) significantly improved growth, yield attributes, yield, nutrient uptake, and economics over other treatments. It recorded the highest grain yield (2307.20 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (4225.05 kg ha⁻¹), gross return (₹1,23,292.50 ha⁻¹), net return (₹86,040.45 ha⁻¹), and benefit-cost ratio (3.30). Treatments T₂ (100% RDF) and T₅ (75% RDF + two foliar sprays) were the next best performers. Nutrient uptake was significantly enhanced under integrated soil and foliar nutrition, while post-harvest soil pH, EC, and organic carbon remained unaffected. The study concluded that 100% RDF supplemented with one foliar spray of NPK (19:19:19) at 30 DAS is the most effective nutrient management practice for improving productivity and profitability of finger millet under Chhattisgarh conditions.