Effect of Phosphorus and Boron on Growth and Yield of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica)
Kaasoju Srinu *
Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
C. Umesha
Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Harsha Komal Nath Reddy
Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
During the rainy season (kharif) of 2021, a field trail “Effect of phosphorus and boron on growth and yield of foxtail millet (Setaria italica)” was conducted treatments with three levels of phosphorus and boron (i.e. P with 25, 30, 35kg/ha and B with 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 kg/ha respectively) at the CRF (Crop Research Farm) SHIATS, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Science, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The soil of the experimental plot had a sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 6.9), low in organic carbon (0.112%), available nitrogen (278.93 kg/ha), available phosphorus (10.8 kg/ha) and available potassium (206.4 kg/ha). Treatments included T1 – 25 kg P/ha + 1.5 kg B/ha, T2 – 25 kg P/ha + 3.0 kg B/ha, T3 – 25 kg P/ha + 4.5 kg B/ha, T4 – 30 kg P/ha + 1.5 kg B/ha, T5 – 30 kg P/ha + 3.0 kg B/ha, T6 – 30 kg P/ha + 4.5 kg B/ha, T7 – 35 kg P/ha + 1.5 kg B/ha, T8 – 35 kg P/ha + 3.0 kg B/ha, T9 – 35 kg P/ha + 4.5 kg B/ha. Application of 35 kg P/ha + 4.5 kg B/ha registered higher plant height (113.65 cm), number of tillers/m2 (66.00), dry plant weight (13.72 g/hill), number of productive tillers/m2 (54.67), grain yield (1695.00 kg/ha), straw yield (2514.00 kg/ha).
Keywords: Economics, growth, foxtail millet, phosphorus, boron, yield