System of Ragi Intensification: Impact of Seedling Age and Crop Geometry on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Economics

Abstract

Finger millet is called a drought-tolerant crop, owing to its capability to withstand water stress, nutritional stress and warming stress. A study was carried out at Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Honnavile to evaluate the performance of rainfed finger millet (Var. ML-365) in system of ragi intensification, SRI) of planting at different crop geometry (One to two seedlings per hill, guni method) during the kharif season in 2024-25. The experiment was assigned twelve treatments, laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. The treatments included: Main plots: 3 Age of seedlings; M1: 14 days old seedlings, M2: 21 days old seedlings, M3: 28 days old seedlings in ‘Guni’ method; Subplots: 4 planting geometries; S1: 20 × 20 cm, S2: 25 × 25 cm, S3: 30 × 30 cm, S4: 35× 35 cm and S5: 30 x 10 cm. Experimental data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis, adopting Fisher’s method of analysis of variance. The results showed that a number of ear heads, finger length and ear head weight were significantly higher in 28 DAT (Days after transplanting) compared to 14 & 21 DAT.  The grain yield (3017 kg ha-1), straw yield (4801.20 kg ha-1) were significantly enhanced by 28 DAT compared to different age of transplanting combinations, but in the case of crop geometry, 35×35 cm recorded the highest grain yield (2718.67 kg ha-1) and straw yield (4222.67 kg ha-1). The nutrient uptake (N, P and K) and B-C ratio were also higher in the ‘guni’ method at 28 DAT and 35 × 35 cm spacing geometry, but N availability after the harvest of the crop was lower in 35 × 35 cm spacing compared to other planting geometries. Hence, it can be concluded that transplanting 28-day-old seedlings in the ‘guni’ method with 35 × 35 cm spacing performed better than mere transplanting of 14 & and 21-day-old seedlings in finger millet to achieve higher yield and straw yield.