Harnessing conservation and nutrient management practices to enhance water use efficiency and soil moisture estimation in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) under the central plain zone of Uttar Pradesh

A Field experiment was also carried out at kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024 at Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to determine the impact of conservation management and nutrient management on soil moisture estimation and water use efficiency (WUE) in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.). The experiment was Conducted in a factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three conservation practices C₁: Conventional tillage, C₂: Zero tillage, and C₃: Raised bed—and six nutrient management treatments from the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) to nano-fertilizer combinations. Findings indicated that the conservation and nutrient management practices significantly influenced soil moisture and WUE in both the years as well as combined over both the years. Among the conservation tillage practices, C₂ always maintained the maximum soil moisture (335.83 mm) and WUE (17.60 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) than conventional tillage. Among the nutrient treatment, F₅ (100% NPK + Nano urea + Nano DAP) had the maximum soil moisture (331.66 mm), and F₆ (50% RDF + Nano urea + Nano DAP) had the maximum WUE (16.51 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹). The improved efficacy of these treatments is because of improved soil aggregation, better water holding capacity, and improved nutrient-use efficiency owing to the application of nano-fertilizers. Generally, the combination of zero tillage with nano-based nutrient management was the most efficient for maximizing finger millet soil water balance and water productivity. These results highlight the promise of conservation tillage and nano-fertilizer technology as environmentally friendly options for enhancing resource efficiency and resilience of dryland crop production systems in Uttar Pradesh's Central Plain Zone.