Effect of nitrogen management on growth and yield of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in Entisol of Chhattisgarh

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2023 to study “Effect of nitrogen management on growth and yield of Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in Entisol of Chhattisgarh” in sandy clay loam soil of Dry land Horticulture Research Cum Instructional Farm Pt. Shiv Kumar Shastri College of Agriculture & Research Station, Rajnandgaon (C.G.). The soil of experimental site was medium in Organic Carbon (0.60%), low in available Nitrogen (163.2 kg ha-1) and Phosphorous (12.82 kg ha-1) and medium in available Potassium (302.5 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments and replicated thrice. Among the different nitrogen management treatments application of 75% N through fertilizer + 25% N through Vermicompost (T5) recorded significantly higher finger millet grain yield (2068.33 kg ha-1) and straw yield 6670.62 kg ha-1). Similarly, higher plant height (130.35 cm), total dry matter accumulation plant-1 (39.05 g), number of effective tillers m-2 (160.95), ear head length (9.08 cm) and ear head weight (9.12 g) were also recorded with same treatment and which was at par with T1- Control (100% RDN through fertilizer) and T8- 50% N through fertilizer + 50% N through Vermicompost + Azospirillum.