Performance of Finger Millet Varieties to Different Crop Establishment Techniques in Rice-fallows

Aim: A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of finger millet varieties to different crop establishment techniques under rice fallow situations. Study Design: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three main plots (Crop establishment techniques) and four sub plots (Varieties) that were allocated randomly and replicated thrice. Place and Duration of study: Rabi, 2023-24 at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla. Methodology: The main plot treatments were Crop establishment techniques i.e., Transplanting (22.5 cm x 10 cm), Dibbling (22.5 cm x 10 cm) and Broadcasting. The sub plot treatments were Varieties which include Vegavathi, Indravathi, Gosthani and Gowthami. Results: Finger millet grown under broadcasting method of establishment under rice fallow situation recorded higher growth parameters (plant height at harvest 92.0 cm) and drymatter accumulation at harvest (9535 kg ha-1), grain yield (2663 kg ha-1) and straw yield (6183 kg ha-1) over dibbling and transplanting methods of crop establishment. Among the finger millet varieties tested in rice - fallows, Vegavathi recorded significantly higher growth parameters (plant height at harvest 89.4 cm) and drymatter accumulation at harvest (9162 kg ha-1), Grain yield (2622 kg ha-1) and straw yield (6079 kg ha-1) in Krishna zone of Andhra Pradesh. The highest gross returns (112013 Rs. ha-1), net returns (700734 Rs ha-1) and Benefit-Cost ratio (1.71) were recorded in Broadcasting method of crop establishment. Vegavathi variety of finger millet recorded higher gross returns (109792 Rs. ha-1), net returns (65143 Rs. ha-1) and Benefit Cost ratio (1.49) in the study. Conclusion: Broadcasting method recorded higher growth parameters, yield, gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio. Among the varieties tested, Vegavathi recorded the highest growth parameters, yield, gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio under rice fallow situations of coastal Andhra Pradesh.