The effect of liquid biofertilizer practices on the growth and yield of finger millet

Biofertilizers are products that contain living microorganisms that are used in agriculture for N₂ fixation, P absorption and nutrient mobilisation to improve soil quality and agricultural production. The randomized block design with three replications involving 11 treatments to determine the effect of liquid biofertilizer on the growth and yield of finger millet. The factors under study comprised different liquid biofertilizer practices. The variety of finger millet (RAU-8) was sown on 28th July 2020. A common recommended dose of fertilizer of 40N:20 P₂O₅:20 K₂OKg ha^-1 was applied. The maximum significant grain yield (23.58 qha^-1) was recorded with T₁ - 100%RDF+seed treatment with liquid biofertilizer (5 ml kg^-1 seed) followed by soil application of liquid biofertilizer (2.5 lit., mix with 500kgha^‑1 FYM and apply in-furrow which was statistically at par with treatment T₃-100%RDF + Soil application with liquid biofertilizer and (21.47 qha^-1 ) T₄-85%RDF+Seed treatment with liquid biofertilizer (5 ml kg^-1 seed) followed by Soil application of liquid biofertilizer (2.5 lit., mix with 500kgha^-1 FYM and apply in-furrow, (20.92 qha^-1 ) T₆ -85%RDF + Soil application of liquid biofertilizer. All the growth parameters like plant height (92.45 cm), the number of tillers per plant (4.39), dry matter accumulation (20.57g plant^-1), days to 50% flowering (81.25), crop growth rate (2.73 g day^-1m ^-2), and relative growth rate were significantly influenced the treatments and maximum recorded at T₁ - 100% RDF + seed treatment with liquid biofertilizer (5 ml kg^-1 seed) followed by soil application of liquid biofertilizer (2.5-liter mix with 500kgha^-1FYM applied in furrows.