Effect of Phosphorus and Boron on Growth and Yield of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica)

Abstract

During the rainy season (kharif) of 2021, a field trail “Effect of phosphorus and boron on growth and yield of foxtail millet (Setaria italica)” was conducted treatments with three levels of phosphorus and boron (i.e. P with 25, 30, 35kg/ha and B with 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 kg/ha respectively) at the CRF (Crop Research Farm) SHIATS, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Science, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The soil of the experimental plot had a sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 6.9), low in organic carbon (0.112%), available nitrogen (278.93 kg/ha), available phosphorus (10.8 kg/ha) and available potassium (206.4 kg/ha). Treatments included T1 – 25 kg P/ha + 1.5 kg B/ha, T2 – 25 kg P/ha + 3.0 kg B/ha, T3 – 25 kg P/ha + 4.5 kg B/ha, T4 – 30 kg P/ha + 1.5 kg B/ha, T5 – 30 kg P/ha + 3.0 kg B/ha, T6 – 30 kg P/ha + 4.5 kg B/ha, T7 – 35 kg P/ha + 1.5 kg B/ha, T8 – 35 kg P/ha + 3.0 kg B/ha, T9 – 35 kg P/ha + 4.5 kg B/ha. Application of 35 kg P/ha + 4.5 kg B/ha registered higher plant height (113.65 cm), number of tillers/m2 (66.00), dry plant weight (13.72 g/hill), number of productive tillers/m2 (54.67), grain yield (1695.00 kg/ha), straw yield (2514.00 kg/ha).