Long term effect of different organic nutrient management practices on growth, yieldof finger millet (Eleusinecoracana L.) and soil properties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Organic Farming Research Centre, University of Agricultural and HorticulturalSciences, Shivamogga,Karnataka, India for five consecutive years (2013 to 2017) during kharif season to study the ‘Longterm effect of different organic nutrient management practices on growth, yield of Finger millet (Eleusinecoracana L.) andsoil properties’. Among the different nutrient management practices, application of recommended dose of FarmYard Manure (7.5 t ha-1) along with 100 per cent N equivalent vermicompost (4 t ha-1) has recorded higher grain yield(25.81 q ha-1) and straw yield (54.69 q ha-1) as compared to other practices. Similarly, higher number of tillers at harvest(4.88/ hill), lengthier fingers (9.5 cm) and higher yield per plant (15 g plant-1) were also recorded with the same treatment.However, higher sustainable yield index (81.43 %) coupled with higher built up of organic carbon (OC) status of soil andmaximum soil microbial population were noticed in the treatment which received recommended dose of FYM along with100 percent N equivalent FYM as compared to initial status.