Response of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen on growth and yield of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) under rainfed condition

A field trial was undertaken during the Kharif season of 2023 at the Upland Research cum Instructional Farm, Lamker, under the jurisdiction of S.G. College of Agriculture and Research Station, Jagdalpur, Bastar (Chhattisgarh). The study aimed to assess the “Impact of organic and inorganic nitrogen sources on the growth and productivity of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) under rainfed conditions.” The experiment followed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with ten treatment combinations, each replicated three times. Among the treatments, T₈ (100% nitrogen through urea, applied as 50% at basal, 25% at 20 DAT, and 25% at 40 DAT) recorded significantly improved growth metrics such as plant height, number of tillers per hill, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate. In terms of yield attributes, T₈ also showed superior results in number of fingers per ear, grains per ear, ear head length (cm), and test weight. Notably, T₈ produced the highest grain and straw yield, followed closely by the treatment involving 100% nitrogen from poultry manure (T₉). For harvest index, the maximum value was observed in T₅. Furthermore, T₈ yielded the highest gross return, net return, and benefit-cost ratio, establishing it as the most economically beneficial treatment.