Growth and Yield of Summer Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) as Affected by Foliar Application of Water-soluble Fertilizers

Background: Generally, finger millet is grown in steepy and sloppy areas where nutrient losses are more due to application of them in soil. Hence to assess the response of finger millet to foliar spray to water soluble fertilizers the experiment has been undertaken. Methods: The agronomic field experiment was conducted at Shiroli Farm, Regional Sugarcane and Jaggery research Station, Kolhapur and Agronomy Section, RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur during summer season of 2023 year to study the growth and yield of summer finger millet (Eleusine coracana) as affected by foliar application of water-soluble fertilizers in a randomized block design with ten treatments replicated thrice viz. absolute control (water spray) at 45 and 60 DAS (T1), RDF (60:30:30 NPK kg ha-1) (T2), 50% RDF fb 1% foliar spray of 19:19:19 at 45 and 60 DAS (T3), 50% RDF fb 2% foliar spray of 19:19:19 at 45 and 60 DAS (T4), 75% RDF fb 1% foliar spray of 19:19:19 at 45 and 60 DAS (T5), 75% RDF fb 2% foliar spray of 19:19:19 at 45 and 60 DAS (T6), 50% RDF fb 1% foliar spray of KNO3 at 45 and 60 DAS (T7), 50% RDF fb 2% foliar spray of KNO3 at 45 and 60 DAS (T8), 75% RDF fb 1% foliar spray of KNO3 at 45 and 60 DAS (T9) and 75% RDF fb 2% foliar spray of KNO3 at 45 and 60 DAS (T10). Result: The results revealed that among the various treatments, treatment RDF (60:30:30 NPK kg ha-1) recorded the highest values for growth, yield parameters and yield of summer finger millet while among the different foliar sprays the application of 75% RDF (45:23:23 NPK kg ha-1) fb 2% foliar spray of 19:19:19 at tillering (45 DAS) and flowering (60 DAS) stage recorded the highest values for growth, yield parameters and yield of summer finger millet. The lowest values were observed with the treatment absolute control (water spray) at tillering (45 DAS) and flowering (60 DAS) stage. The cost of cultivation was highest for the treatment 75% RDF (45:23:23 NPK kg ha-1) fb 2% foliar spray of KNO3 at tillering (45 DAS) and flowering (60 DAS) stage (T10) (Rs. 58645 ha-1) and the highest B:C ratio was noted in the treatment RDF (60:30:30 NPK kg ha-1) (T2) (Rs.130036 ha-1, Rs. 74760 ha-1 and 2.35).