Spacing and seed rate management improves yield and farm economics of foxtail millet

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is gaining importance as a climate-resilient and nutritionally rich crop in dryland regions of India. Optimum plant population that is determined by appropriate spacing and seed rate plays a key role in enhancing yield and profitability. A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2024 at Farm of Agronomy, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidhyapeeth, Akola. The experiment was conducted with six treatments and four replications. The treatments were S1- 30 cm x 5 cm with seed rate 6.0 kg ha^-1, S2- 30 cm x 10 cm with seed rate 3.0 kg ha^-1, S3- 30 cm x 15 cm with seed rate 2.0 kg ha^-1, S4- 45 cm x 5 cm with seed rate 4.0 kg ha^-1, S5- 45 cm x 10 cm with seed rate 2.0 kg ha^-1, S6- 45 cm x 15 cm with seed rate 1.5 kg ha^-1. The variety used was PDKV-Yashashri. Data on grain yield, straw yield were recorded and economic analysis was carried out. Results revealed that grain and straw yield per hectare was maximum with treatment S4- 45 cm x 5 cm with seed rate 4.0 kg ha^-1. Economic analysis indicated that maximum gross monetary returns, net monetary returns and benefit - cost ratio were recorded with sowing of foxtail millet at 45 cm x 5 cm with seed rate 4.0 kg ha^-1, thus proving to be the most economical spacing and seed rate for foxtail millet cultivation under semi-arid conditions.