Yield and economics of finger millet with establishment methods under different planting geometry and nutrient source

Field experiment was conducted at University of Agriculture Sciences, Bengaluru to assess the performance of finger millet under different methods of establishment, planting geometry and nutrient sources on growth, yield and economics. The study comprised of two methods of establishment (direct sowing and transplanting), three planting geometry (30 × 10 cm, 30 × 30 cm and 45 × 30 cm) and two sources of nutrients (N1: RDF (50: 40: 37.5 kg NPK/ha) and N2: FYM on N equivalent basis) laid in RCB Design with factorial concept and replicated thrice. Significantly higher parameters viz., leaf area of 1892 cm2/hill, total dry matter production/hill of 40.77 g/hill, grain yield of 2671 kg/ha, straw yield of 4745 kg/ha, cost of cultivation of 33767, gross returns of 106552 and net returns of 72786 were recorded in transplanting method. The wider spacing viz., 45 × 30 cm and 30 × 30 cm has recorded higher leaf area (2194 and 1832 cm2/hill, respectively), total dry matter production of 38.68 and 40.73 g/hill, respectively, whereas, higher grain yield (2737 kg/ha), straw yield (4849 kg/ha), cost of cultivation ( 33659), gross returns ( 110484), net returns ( 76825) were recorded with recommended spacing (30 ×10 cm). Significantly higher growth parameters viz., leaf area of 1934 cm2/hill, total dry matter production/hill of 39.74 g/hill, grain yield of 2701 kg/ha, straw yield of 4901 kg/ha, gross returns of 108242 and net returns of 78326 were recorded with application of recommended dose of FYM 7.5 t/ha + RDF (50: 40: 37.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O/ha).