Effect of Nitrogen on the Performance of Finger Millet in Eastern Ghat High Land Zone of Odisha, India

An experiment was conducted to find out performance of finger millet varieties to different levels of nitrogen under rainfed condition in kharif season of 2019 to 2021 at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station (OUAT), Semiliguda, Koraput, Odisha, India. Four varieties of finger millet (Kalua, OEB- 602, Bhairabi and Arjun) and three different nitrogen levels (40, 60 and 80 kg/ha) along with 30 kg/ha each of phosphorus and potassium were laid out in split-plot design with three replications. The varieties were taken in the main plots and different nitrogen levels were assigned to the sub plots. The results revealed that highest number of tillers (6.1/hill), fingers (8.3/ear head), finger length (8.8 cm) along with maximum grain yield (2491 kg/ha), net return (Rs. 39464 per ha) and B: C ratio (1.94) were obtained with finger millet variety Arjun followed by Bhairabi. The application of 80 kg N/ha gave highest number of tillers (5.7/hill), fingers (7.7/ear head), finger length (8.4 cm) and grain yield (2399 kg/ha) with highest net return (Rs. 36237 per ha) and B: C ratio (1.86). From the present investigation, it can be concluded that finger millet variety Arjun can be grown with application of 80 kg N/ha along with 30 kg/ha each of phosphorus and potassium for maximum yield and economic return.