Evaluation of Different Approaches of Fertilizer Recommendations on Yield, Nutrient Uptake, and Use Efficiency of Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L. Garten)

The effect of fertilizer application based on “fertilizing the soil versus fertilizing the crop,” which ensures real balance between the applied and available soil nutrients, is urgently needed. Hence, the present study was conducted during Kharif 2022 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Mandya to assess the effect of imbalance and balance fertilization based on initial soil test values and targeted yields, and to determine the effect of different approaches of fertilizer recommendation on yield, nutrient uptake and use efficiency of finger millet crop. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design comprising seven treatments. The results revealed that significantly higher grain yield (46.30 q ha‒1), straw yield (67.90 q ha‒1), total uptake of nitrogen (218.49 kg ha‒1), phosphorus (24.75 kg ha‒1) and potassium (165.74 kg ha‒1) of finger millet was observed in STCR based NPK + FYM application for the targeted yield of 45 q ha‒1 based on actual soil test values which was superior compared to general recommended dose (GRD) and soil fertility rating approach (SFR) approach. The higher apparent recovery efficiency (ARE), agronomic nutrient use efficiency (ANUE) of NPK, and partial factor productivity (PFP) of N and K were recorded in the STCR approach compared to SFR and GRD. Whereas the PFP of phosphorus was noticed to be higher in the soil fertility rating approach, and the IUE of NPK was recorded as higher in the absolute control. Further, the higher economics in terms of benefit cost ratio (BCR) was recorded in treatment with the STCR NPK alone application for yield target of 45 q ha‒1 based on soil test value compared to other treatments, thus proving the superiority of the STCR approach over other approaches of fertilizer recommendation.