Effect of Date of Sowing and Nutrient Management on Nutrient Uptake and Yield of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture Farm, Raichur on medium black soil during kharif, 2017 to study the effect of date of sowing and nutrient management on nutrient uptake and yield of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of four sowing dates (second fortnight of June, first fortnight of July, second fortnight of July and first fortnight of August) and three levels of RDF (75%, 100% and 125% RDF). The results revealed that, early sowing during second fortnight of June recorded significantly higher uptake of nitrogen (112.12 kg ha^-1), phosphorus (10.82 kg ha^-1), potassium (60.66 kg ha^-1), grain yield (2368 kg ha^-1), stover yield (8916 kg ha^-1) net returns (` 24978 ha<sup>-1</sup>) and benefit cost ratio (2.46). However, it was found to be on par with first fortnight of July. A higher nutrient uptake, yield and economics were recorded by the application of 100% RDF (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, grain yield, stover yield, net return, benefit cost ratio; 99.74 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, 9.19 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, 44.86 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, 2140 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> 7176 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, ` 19394 ha^-1 and 2.13, respectively) and it was in turn on par with 125% RDF. But, interaction effect of date of sowing and nutrient management was found to be non significant with respect to nutrient uptake and yield. Sowing during second fortnight of June in combination with application of 100% RDF noted significantly higher grain yield (2424 kg ha^-1), stover yield (9350 kg ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.51).