Effect of foliar sprays of organic and inorganic nutrients on growth, yield and quality of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L)

A field investigation entitled “Effect of Foliar Sprays of Organic and Inorganic Nutrients on Growth, Yield and Quality of Finger Millet” was conducted in kharif season of 2024 at PGI farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The experiment consists of twelve treatments vizT₁: GRDF ( No foliar spray), T₂: GRDF + Foliar spray of Urea @ 2%, T₃: GRDF + Foliar spray of 19:19:19 @ 2%, T₄: GRDF + Foliar spray of Cow urine @ 10%, T₅: GRDF + Foliar spray of Vermiwash @ 10%, T₆: GRDF + Foliar spray of Urea @ 2% + Cow urine @ 10%, T₇: GRDF + Foliar spray of Urea @ 2% + Vermiwash @ 10%, T₈: GRDF + Foliar spray of 19:19:19 @ 2% + Cow urine @ 10%, T₉: GRDF + Foliar spray of 19:19:19 @ 2% + Vermiwash @ 10%, T₁₀: GRDF + Foliar spray of Cow urine @ 10% + Vermiwash @ 10%, T₁₁: GRDF + Foliar spray of Urea @ 2% + Cow urine @ 10% + Vermiwash @ 10%, T₁₂: GRDF + Foliar spray of 19:19:19 @ 2% + Cow urine @ 10% + Vermiwash @ 10% sprays at 30 DAS and 45 DAS..As regards growth and yield attributing characters,plant height (111.6 cm), number of tillers (13.14), number of fingers plant^-1 (7.40), weight of seed plant^-1 (6.98 g), and 1000 seed weight (3.22 g), grain yield (25.08 q ha^-1), straw yield (30.46 q ha^-1) and harvest index (45.35%) of finger millet was recorded were recorded significantly the highest under treatment T₁₂: GRDF + Foliar spray of 19:19:19 @ 2% + Cow urine @ 10% + Vermiwash @ 10% with highest gross monetary returns (₹107638), net monetary returns of (₹ 60304) and B:C ratio (2.27) While, T₁: Absolute control obtained minimum gross monetary returns, net monetary returns and B:C ratio among all the treatments.