Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
Mownika R, Sanbagavalli S, Thavaprakaash N, Kalarani MK and Renukadevi A

Abstract:
The field experiment was carried out to study the effect of crop geometry and potassium on growth and yield of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) under irrigated condition with the variety ATL 1 during summer season (March-June) of 2021 at Eastern Block farm, Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice with Factor I viz., crop geometry [C₁: 22.5 × 10 cm, C₂: 30 × 10 cm, C₃: 45 × 10 cm] and Factor II viz., potassium [K₁: RDF (44:22:0 NPK kg ha^-1), K₂: RDF + 11 kg K₂O ha^-1, K₃: RDF + 22 kg K₂O ha^-1, K₄: RDF + Potassium Solubilizing Bacteria (KSB) @ 2 kg ha^-1 as soil application, K₅: Absolute control (without fertilizer)]. Growth, yield attributes and yield parameters such as plant population m^-2, plant height, number of tillers plant^-1, number of productive tillers m^-2, number of grains earhead^-1, grain yield ha^-1, straw yield ha^-1, test weight and harvest index were recorded. Results revealed that sowing seeds at the spacing of 30 × 10 cm recorded significantly higher yield. Application of Recommended dose of fertilizer along with 22 kg of potassium recorded higher values of growth and yield parameters. Among the treatment combinations, spacing of 30 × 10 cm with potassium application of 22 kg ha^-1of K recorded the higher grain yield.