Agronomic and Economic Analysis of Brown top Millet under Varying Sowing Dates and Nitrogen Fertility Levels

Aim: The experiment is aimed to identify ideal sowing date and nitrogen level in browntop millet during rainy season on alfisols of Telangana.

Study Design: Randomized Block Design with factorial concept and replicated thrice.

Place and Duration of Study: College Farm, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India during rainy season, 2019.

Methodology: Browntop millet variety VZM-1 was tested under four dates of sowing viz., D1- June 15th, D2- June 30th, D3-July 15th and D4 - 30th July and four N levels viz; N1- 0 kg ha-1 N2 - 20 kg ha-1, N1- 40 kg ha-1 and N4-60 kg ha-1. The growth parameters, yield attributes, yield, nitrogen uptake at different crop growth stages and monetary returns were studied.

Results: The results indicated that plant height, tillers hill-1, leaf area, dry matter accumulation at all crop intervals and yield attributes viz; effective tillers, panicle length, panicle weight, number of grains, grain, straw yield, N uptake at different crop stages and monetary returns were highest with sowing on D1- June 15th.Among the N levels tested, crop fertilized with 40 kg N ha-1 registered higher plant height, tillers hill-1, leaf area, dry matter accumulation at all crop intervals, yield attributes viz; effective tillers, panicle length, panicle weight, number of grains, grain, straw yield N uptake at different crop stages and monetary returns.

Conclusion: On alfisols of Telangana during rainy season, sowing of browntop millet on June 15th fertilized with 40 kg N ha-1 helps to realize higher yield and monetary returns.