Impact of jeevamrut from different animal excretions combined with mulching on growth, yield, and economics of finger millet

A comparative study of jeevamrut prepared from excretion of different animals along with mulching on growth and yield of finger millet was carried out at Agronomy Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India during kharif season of the year 2023on loamy sand soil with medium organic carbon, low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium The experiment was consisted of twelve treatment combinations comprising of four treatments of jeevamrut viz; a treated check (FYM eq. to N), compared with prepared from excreta of indigenous cow, exotic cow and buffalo, coupled with three treatments of mulching viz., no mulch, mulch with plant residue (wheat straw @ 5 t/ha) and live mulch (cowpea as an intercrop, in 1:1 replacement series) which were tested in randomized block design with factorial concept. Finger millet (variety GNN 8) was sown at spacing of 30 cm × 10 cm. The study evaluated the impact of jeevamrut on various growth and yield parameters of plants showed significant impact on all the growth and yield attributes except plant height at 30 and 60 DATP, test weight and harvest index. jeevamrut prepared from excreta of indigenous cow (J1), had significantly higher plant height at harvest, number of effective tillers per meter row length, number of fingers and fingers length found at par with jeevamrut prepared from excreta of exotic cow (J2). Significantly higher grain yield, straw yield and finger millet equivalent yield were recorded with jeevamrut prepared from excreta of indigenous cow (J1), while grain yield was comparable with jeevamrut prepared from exotic cow (J2). As far as effect of mulch treatments were concerned, plant height at 30, 60 DATP, at harvest, test weight and harvest index were remained unaffected due to mulch treatments. Live mulch (cowpea as an intercrop, M2) had produced significantly higher number of effective tillers per meter row length, number of fingers and finger length. However, significantly higher grain and straw yield were recorded with plant residue (wheat straw @ 5 t/ha, M1), whereas significantly highest finger millet equivalent yield was reported under live mulch (cowpea as an intercrop, M2). Higher net realization and BCR were obtained with jeevamrut prepared from indigenous cow and live mulch with cowpea.