Effect of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) varieties to different spacings in kharif season

Abstract

The field investigation entitled was conducted during kharif 2024 at Experimental Farm, Agronomy Section, College of Agriculture, Latur to study the response of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) varieties to spacings. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with two factors and replicated thrice. Main comprises the different varieties viz. V1 -Phule Nachani, V2- Phule Kasari and V3- Dapoli-1 and sub factor comprises the three spacings viz. S1- 30 cm × 10 cm, S2-45 cm × 15 cm and S3 -45 cm × 20 cm. The results revealed that among the varieties Phule Nachani (V1) recorded highest plant height (104.4 cm) which was at par with Phule Kasari (V2) and found significantly superior over Dapoli-1 (V3). The highest values of growth parameters viz. number of tillers plant-1 (3.12), number of leaves plant-1 (45.5), mean leaf area (5.14 dm2) and dry matter production plant-1 (51.6 g) and highest grain yield (1763 kg ha- 1) and biological yield (7726 kg ha-1) recorded in Dapoli-1 (V3) which was significantly at par with Phule Kasari (V2) and superior over Phule Nachani (V1). Numerically highest value of harvest index (22.95%) recorded in Dapoli-1 (V3). However, among the spacings, the wider spacing of 45 cm × 20 cm (S3) recorded highest values of number of tillers plant-1 (3.24), number of functional leaves plant-1 (45.6), leaf area plant-1 (4.88 dm2) and dry matter production plant-1 (51.0 g) which was at par with spacing 45 cm × 15 cm (S2) and significantly superior over spacing 30 × 10 cm (S1). Significantly highest values of plant height (105.4 cm), grain yield (1733 kg ha-1) and biological yield (7932 kg ha-1) were recorded in closer spacing 30 × 10 cm (S1) which was found to be at par with spacing 45 cm × 15 cm (S2) and significantly superior over 45 cm × 20 cm (S3). Numerically highest value of harvest index (22.34%) recorded in intermediate spacing 45 cm × 15 cm (S2).