Sreemathi M.G., Kandasamy S., Raman R., Meyyappan M. and Dhanasekaran K.
Abstract
Over the past few years, the need to rectify inefficient crop geometry and nutrient management by reducing inorganic fertilizer use and integrating organic manures has gained considerable attention due to environmental concerns and concerns about soil fertility. Enriched organic compost has been identified as a superior alternative to conventional organic manures, as it reduces bulk application requirements while enhancing nutrient efficiency and cost effectiveness. Hence, a field trial was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Annamalai University, during the cropping period from January to May 2024, to evaluate the effect of crop geometry and organic compost on transplanted finger millet. The field trial was laid in a split plot design (SPD) with four main plot treatments and four sub plot treatments, and replicated thrice. From the results of the field experiment, among main plot, 30 Ã 30 cm (M3) recorded significantly greater values of growth and yield such as plant height (91.25), LAI (3.28), DMP (5375.73), number of productive tillers (92.67), number of fingers earhead-1 (7.94), ear head length (7.72), grain yield (2997.23) and straw yield (6475.42). Similarly higher values were found under sub plot treatments, namely 75% RDN + 25% N through enriched poultry manure compost @ 500kg ha-1(S4) such as plant height (94.12), LAI (3.59), DMP (5735.49), number of productive tillers (98.81), number of fingers earhead-1 (8.78), ear head length (8.79), grain yield (3106.48) and straw yield (6730.50). The lowest values were recorded under the adoption of crop geometry M4 (45Ã15 cm) along with the application of 100% RDF (60:30:30 kg ha-1) as a control (S1). It was determined that there was substantial interaction between the main and sub plot treatments. This study illustrates that cultivation of finger millet by adopting the crop geometry of 30 Ã 30 cm along with the soil application of 75% RDN + 25% N through enriched poultry manure compost @ 500kg ha-1(M3S4) is found to be an economically and agronomically sound practice that would increase productivity and profitability.