Effect of Different Sources of Organic Manures on Growth and Yield of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) under Integrated Organic Farming System

Aims: To increase the area of millets under cultivation and also to create awareness about the use of different organic manures in agriculture.

Study Design: Randomized complete block design.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Agronomy, MARS, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, 2016 (kharif).

Methodology: As a part of the experiment, the solid wastes like cow dung, bullocks dung, feed waste, cattle shed wastes and all the goat droppings produced by livestock components in IFS were stored, composted and available quantity of nutrients in various organic manures was worked out on a dry weight basis. This available quantity of organic manure obtained from livestock components of IFS was calculated and utilized as per different treatment schedule.

Results: Results of study revealed that higher plant height (183.11 cm), Leaf area (22.60 cm2 plant-1), dry matter production (22.08 g plant-1), total number of tillers at harvest (2.73), grain yield (1841 kg ha-1), stover yield (7066 kg ha-1) and harvest index (0.21) increased significantly due to application of jeevamrutha + mulching + IFS compost + vermicompost + panchagavya over control. The highest gross return (Rs. 56,996) and net return (Rs. 39,846) was obtained with jeevamrutha + mulching + IFS compost + vermicompost + panchagavya and minimum with control. This treatment is followed by jeevamrutha + mulching + IFS compost + panchagavya and IFS compost + panchagavya.

Conclusion: A long-term field investigation is needed to ascertain the benefits of organic manures and/ or liquid manures on yield and quality of millets and their effect on soil physical, chemical and biological properties.