Growth, yield and nutrient uptake of browntop millet (Brachiaria ramosa) under varying sowing dates and nitrogen levels

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2019 at research farm of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana to study the effect of sowing dates and nitrogen levels on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of browntop millet [Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf]. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) on sandy loam soil with factorial concept consisting of 4 dates of sowing (June 15th, June 30th, July 15th and July 30th) and 4 nitrogen levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg/ha) with 3 replications. Results showed that leaf area (683, 1530 and 1412 cm2 /plant), dry-matter production (248, 540, 622 g/m2 ), number of panicles/m2 (6.52), panicle length (17.82 cm), grains/panicle (147.92), grain (2,003 kg/ha) and straw yield (3,930 kg/ha); and nutrient uptake (N, P and K) at tillering, flowering and harvest (grain and straw) were significantly higher with June 15th sowing. Among N levels, application of 60 kg N/ha recorded highest leaf area (735, 1,560 and 1,437 cm2/plant), dry-matter production (243, 523 and 619 g/m2 ), number of panicles/m2 (6.48), panicle length (19.08 cm), grains/panicle (152.42), grain (1,921 kg/ha) and straw yield (3,949 kg/ha), and nutrient uptake (N, P and K) at tillering, flowering and harvest (grain and straw) but was at par with 40 kg N/ha over 20 and 0 kg N/ha.