Author(s):

N Senthil Kumar and M Paramasivan

Abstract: Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam during rabi season (Nov – Mar) of 2018-19, to evaluate the different crop establishment techniques on growth and yield of finger millet. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design, replicated with thrice using Co (Ra) 15 as the test variety. To accomplish the objectives, the experiment was planned with the following treatments viz., The treatment structure comprises of Broadcasting (T₁), Line sowing of 30 x 10 cm (T₂), Random planting (T₃), Line planting of 30 x 10 cm (T₄), Square planting of 20 x 20 cm (T5), Square planting of 25 x 25 cm (T6), Square planting of 30 x 30 cm (T7) and Seedling throwing (T8). Observation on plant height, number of tillers m^-2, leaf area index, dry matter production, number of ear heads^-1, number of fingers earhead^-1, number of grains earhead^-1, grain and straw yield were recorded. Among the different methods of establishment, square planting of 25 x 25 cm (T6) significantly increased the plant height (105.4 cm), number of tillers m^-2 (106), leaf area index (4.9), DMP (6820 kg ha^-1), number of ear heads^-1, (89), number of fingers earhead^-1 (8.7), and number of grains earhead^-1 (1716). Similarly the seed yield (2590 Kg ha^-1) and straw yield (4020 Kg ha^-1) were also registered higher under square planting of 25 x 25 cm (T6). The increase in grain yield recorded under square planting (25 x 25 cm) over random planting, line sowing and broadcasting were 19, 28 and 40 per cent, respectively. Square planting of 25 x 25 cm, proved to be the most profitable treatment in terms of higher growth and yield in finger millet cultivation.

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