Influence of Nitrogen and Iron on Yield and Economics of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during zaid season (April - July) 2022 at experimental field of Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. The treatments consist of 3 levels of nitrogen (40 kg, 50 kg, 60 kg/ha) applied in 2 doses (Basal and 20 DAS) and foliar application of Iron (0.2, 0.4, 0.6%) at 30, 45 DAS along with control. The experiment was layout in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments each replicated thrice. The treatment combinations are T1- 40 kg N + 0.2% Iron, T2- 40 kg N + 0.4% Iron, T3- 40 kg N + 0.6% Iron, T4- 50 kg N + 0.2% Iron, T5- 50 kg N + 0.4% Iron, T6- 50 kg N + 0.6% Iron, T7- 60 kg N + 0.2% Iron, T8- 60 kg N + 0.4% Iron, T9- 60 kg N + 0.6% Iron, T10- Control (RDF: 50:30:20 NPK kg/ha). Significantly higher plant height (101.57 cm), maximum plant dry weight (14.83 g), more number of tillers per plant (8.87) and yield attributes namely higher panicle length (18.61 cm), grains per panicle (1389.30), grain yield (1.79 t/ha), straw yield (2.53 t/ha), maximum gross return (88180.00 INR/ha), net return (60638.00 INR/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.20) were obtained highest in the treatment 9, with the application of 60 kg/ha Nitrogen and 0.6% Iron.