Effect of fertilizer levels and foliar application of NPK (19:19:19) on growth, yield and yield attributes of Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)

Abstract:

A field experiment entitled “Effect of fertilizer levels and foliar application of NPK (19:19:19) on growth, yield and yield attributes of Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)” was conducted during the kharif season of 2025 at the Instructional Farm of BTC College of Agriculture and Research Station, Sarkanda, Bilaspur. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The study comprised seven nutrient management treatments, viz., (T₁) Control, (T₂) 100 % RDF (60:40:30 kg ha⁻¹ N, P, K), (T₃) 100 % RDF + N, P, K (19:19:19) Foliar Spray at 30 DAS, (T₄) 75% RDF + N, P, K (19:19:19) Foliar Spray at 30 DAS, (T₅) 75% RDF + N, P, K (19:19:19) Foliar Spray at 30 and 50 DAS, (T₆) 50% RDF + N, P, K (19:19:19) Foliar Spray at 30 DAS and (T₇) 50% RDF + N, P, K (19:19:19) Foliar Spray at 30 and 50 DAS. The study revealed that different nutrient management practices significantly affected the growth, yield attributes and yield of kodo millet. Among the treatments, T₃ – 100% RDF + NPK (19:19:19) foliar spray at 30 DAS consistently produced the highest plant height, dry matter production, number of tillers and effective tillers throughout the crop growth period. It was followed by T₂ – 100% RDF (60:40:30 kg ha⁻¹ NPK) and T₅ – 75% RDF + NPK (19:19:19) foliar spray at 30 and 50 DAS, whereas the Control (T₁) recorded the lowest values for all growth parameters. Similarly, yield attributes and yield parameters, namely panicle length, panicle weight, test weight, grain yield and straw yield, were markedly influenced by nutrient management. The highest panicle length (10.79 cm), panicle weight (8.78 g), grain yield (2329.06 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (5418.00 kg ha⁻¹) were obtained under T₃ – 100% RDF + NPK (19:19:19) foliar spray at 30 DAS, while the Control (T₁) recorded the lowest grain yield (906.81 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (2309.74 kg ha⁻¹). The highest cost of cultivation (₹ 33,631.00 ha⁻¹), gross return (₹ 85,365.92 ha⁻¹), net return (₹ 51,734.92 ha⁻¹) and benefit: cost ratio (2.54) were recorded under treatment T₃ – 100% RDF + NPK (19:19:19) foliar spray at 30 DAS. However, the lowest gross return (₹ 33,636.40 ha⁻¹), net return (₹ 7,955.40 ha⁻¹) and B:C ratio (1.31) were recorded under T₁ – Control. Soil pH and organic carbon were not significantly affected by the treatments; however, T₃ recorded the lowest soil pH (6.80) and highest organic carbon content (0.55%), while T₁ – Control recorded the highest soil pH (7.30) and lowest organic carbon content (0.51%), indicating a slight improvement in soil fertility under integrated nutrient management.