2024, Vol. 7, Issue 9, Part K

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India during kharif season of the year 2023 to study the efficacy of jeevamrut prepared from excretion of different animals along with mulching on growth and yield of little millet. The experiment consisted of twelve treatment combinations comprising of jeevamrut prepared from indigenous cow (Gir), jeevamrut prepared from exotic cow (Jersey), jeevamrut prepared from buffalo (Surti) and a treated check (FYM eq. to N), coupled with three types of mulching viz., mulch with plant residue (wheat straw @ 5 t/ha), live mulch (cowpea as an intercrop, in 1:1 replacement series) and no mulch. Little millet (variety GV 4) was sown at distance 30 cm × 10 cm. The study evaluated the impact of jeevamrut on various growth and yield parameters of plants showed significant impact on all the growth and yield attributes. Jeevamrut prepared from indigenous cow (J₁), had significantly higher number of effective tillers per meter row length, however it had significantly higher plant height at 60 DATP and at harvest, which was found at par with jeevamrut from exotic cow (J₂), while panicle length was at par with jeevamrut prepared from exotic cow (J₂) as well as buffalo (J₃). Significantly higher grain, straw and little millet equivalent yield were recorded with jeevamrut prepared from indigenous cow (J₁), while grain and straw yield comparable to jeevamruth prepared from exotic cow (J₂). As far as effect of mulch treatments concerned, the use of live mulch (cowpea as an intercrop, M₂) had produced significantly higher number of effective tillers per meter row length, and panicle length, while plant height 60 DATP and at harvest, performing at par with mulch using plant residue (wheat straw @ 5 t/ha, M1). Significantly higher grain and straw were recorded with plant residue (wheat straw @ 5 t/ha, M1). Whereas, significantly the highest little millet equivalent yield was reported under live mulch (cowpea as an intercrop, M₂). The highest net realization of (₹79866/ ha) and BCR (3.23) was received with application of (J₁) jeevamrut prepared from indigenous cow. Live mulch (cowpea as mulch crop, M₂) fetched the highest net return (₹92536/ha) and BCR (3.55).