The effect of levels and sources of nitrogen on growth and yield of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

Ensuring the future readiness of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.)] cultivation through sustainable production requires integrated nutrient management strategies capable of supporting crop productivity and soil health under rainfed and marginal conditions. A field investigation was conducted during the kharif 2024 season at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Maharashtra, to evaluate the effect of levels and sources of nitrogen on the growth and yield of finger millet. The experiment adopted a split-plot design with four main plot treatments of nitrogen fertilizer levels (F₀: 0% RDF (No fertilizer), F₁: 50% N+ Full dose of P₂O₅ and K₂O, F2: 75% N + Full dose of P₂O₅ and K₂O and F3: 100% N + Full dose of P₂O₅ and K₂O and four subplot treatments representing different nitrogen sources: N0: control, N₁: 0.5% Nano nitrogen, N₂: 0.5% Conjugated nitrogen and N₃: Acetobacter biofertilizer. The result revealed that, the application of the full recommended dose of fertilizer (F₃: 100% N + Full dose of P₂O₅ and K₂O), significantly enhanced key plant growth parameters including plant height (cm), number of functional leaves hill^-1, number of tillers hill^-1 and dry matter accumulation hill^-1. Yield components such as earhead number, grain yield per hectare and protein content were similarly maximized in these treatments, with nutrient uptake and use efficiency also reaching their higher values under integrated nitrogen management. Among nitrogen sources Notably, the treatment (N₂: 0.5% conjugated nitrogen) foliar spray resulted in the higher growth, yield, nutrient use indices and profitability. The study strongly suggests that, optimizing nitrogen levels and nitrogen sources application especially through precision foliar delivery can meaningfully improve finger millet productivity and economics, while supporting sustainable soil management.