Effect of NPK Water-soluble Fertilizer on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Finger Millet

Abstract

Background: The availability of macro and micronutrients added to the soil are affected by soil environmental factors leading to various losses. When a similar amount of fertilizer is applied through foliar application, its use efficiency is increased many folds. In the sandy loam soil, foliar applied fertilizers are up to 20 times more effective as compared to soil applied fertilizers. Water soluble fertilizer of 19:19:19 grade N: P: K is totally water soluble and present in crystalline powder form. It can be applied to the crop by fertigation or through foliar spraying. Instant uptake of nutrients by the plants resulting in significant and quick improvement in crop growth. Humic acid when applied to field converted into readily available humic substances which directly or indirectly effect the plant growth. Foliar application of nutrients along with soil application of nutrients increase the yield and to improve the quality of cereal crops .Keeping the aforesaid facts in consideration, the present investigation was carried out to study effect of NPK water soluble fertilizer on growth, yield and yield attributes and nutrient uptake of ragi. Methods: The present investigation was carried out during January – May 2018 at farmers field, kamarajapuram village, Katpadi Taluk, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The experiments were laid out in RBD (Randomized Block Design), Ragi [Elusine coracana (L.) Gaertn], CO-14 variety were taken into study. The experimental soil was sandy loam, 10 treatments with replicated thrice. The soil and plant sample was collected periodically proceed with standard analytical and statistical method followed. Result: Our investigations the soil and foliar feeding of nutrients along with water soluble fertilizer and humic acid combined treatment T10 (Soil application of 50% RDN + foliar spray of 50% RDN and 100% P and K through water soluble fertilizer [on 20 and 40 DAT] + foliar spray of humic acid 0.1% [on 20 and 40 DAT]) was significantly superior in performance with respect to growth, yield attributes, quality and nutrient uptake by ragi. It can be recommended to farmers to achieve more benefit from finger millet.