Influence of nutrient levels and weed management practices on growth performance of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) cultivars under Bastar plateau region of Chhattisgarh

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of different varieties, nutrient levels, and weed management practices on the growth parameters of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) under the agro-climatic conditions of the Bastar Plateau region of Chhattisgarh. The study was laid out in a split-split plot design with three varieties (Indira Ragi-1, CG Ragi-2, and CG Ragi-3), three nutrient levels (75%, 100%, and 125% of recommended dose of nitrogen), and four weed management practices (pre-emergence herbicide + mechanical weeding, post-emergence herbicide, hand weeding twice, and weedy check). Results revealed non-significant differences in plant population across treatments at all stages. However, other growth parameters were significantly influenced from 60 DAT onwards. Among varieties, CG Ragi-2 consistently outperformed others in plant height, dry weight, leaf area, LAI, tiller number, CGR, and RGR, followed by Indira Ragi-1. The application of 125% RDN significantly enhanced all growth traits, while the lowest values were recorded under 75% RDN. Hand weeding twice was the most effective weed management practice, showing maximum values for all growth parameters, while the weedy check recorded the lowest. Significant interactions between variety and nutrient level, as well as three-way interactions including weed management, further highlighted the synergistic effect of optimal genotype, fertility, and weed control. Overall, the combination of CG Ragi-2 with 125% RDN and hand weeding twice proved most effective in enhancing the growth and biomass accumulation of finger millet. These findings underline the importance of integrated agronomic management in improving crop performance under rainfed conditions.