Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at ARS, Hagari on medium black soil during
rabi-2017 to study the effect of agronomic fortification with zinc and iron on growth parameters and yield of foxtail millet [
Setaria italica (L.)] genotypes. The experiment was laid on split plot design consisting of three genotypes in the main plot and seven different levels of micronutrients application in sub plot. The genotypes recorded non-significant difference with respect to the growth parameters and yield. Among the micronutrients application the treatment M
7: RDF + Soil application of ZnSO
4 at 15 kg ha
-1 and FeSO
4 at 10 kg ha
-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO
4 and FeSO
4 each 30 DAS recorded significantly higher number of tillers plant
-1 (4.21), leaf area (41.26, 83.47 and 27.82 cm
2 plant
-1 at 30, 60 and at harvest, respectively),
total dry matter accumulation (2.53, 11.01 and 29.69 g plant
-1 at 30, 60 and at harvest, respectively), grain yield (2272 kg ha
-1), stover yield (9298 kg ha
-1) and harvest index (19.63 %). In interaction effect G
3: Sia-2644 and M
7: RDF + Soil application of ZnSO
4 @ 15 kg ha
-1 & FeSO
4 @ 10 kg ha
-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO
4 and FeSO
4 each 30 DAS recorded significantly higher number of tillers plant
-1 (4.32), leaf area (41.75, 85.23 and 30.19 cm
2 plant
-1 at 30, 60 and at harvest, respectively),
total dry matter accumulation (2.48, 11.28 and 30.52 g plant
-1 at 30, 60 and at harvest, respectively), grain yield (2321 kg ha
-1), stover yield (9363 kg ha
-1) and harvest index (19.85 %).