Evaluation of foliar application of bio-stimulants and nutrients on the seed yield of transplanted finger millet (Eleusine coracana)

Abstract

Foliar application of bio-stimulants and nutrients is a rapid and promising strategy to enhance the availability of nutrients at a critical stage of crop growth. This favoured the nutrient balance in improving crop growth and yield potential. Therefore, this field study was conducted during 2021 at a farmer’s field in Srivilliputhur block, Tamil Nadu to assess the effect of foliar application of bio-stimulants and nutrients on transplanted finger millet CO15. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and eight treatments viz., Control, GA3 @ 50 ppm, Panchagava @ 3%, Seaweed extract (Sargassum wightii) @ 5%, Humic acid @ 5%, Boron @ 0.3%, ZnSO4 @ 0.5% and FeSO4 @ 0.5% sprayed twice at 20 DAT and 45 DAT. Ten characters namely plant height, number of tillers/hill, Leaf area index, dry matter production, number of ear heads/hill, number of fingers/ear head, finger length, test weight, seed yield and straw yield were studied. Among the different foliar treatments, NPK along with the foliar application of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% (T6 ) significantly enhance the growth and yield parameters compared to the other treatments. Hence, foliar application of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% (T6 ) could be adopted to get a higher seed yield.