Investigating Different Planting Geometry and Nutrient Management to Enhance Teff Productivity in Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka, India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS), Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka on red sandy loam soil to study the “Investigating different planting geometry and nutrient management to enhance teff productivity”. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design, consisting two factors viz., Factor 1: Two planting geometry (S1: 30 cm × 10 cm and S2: 45 cm × 10 cm) and Factor 2: Five Nutrient management (N1: 50 % RDF, N2: 75 % RDF, N3: 100 % RDF, N4: 125 % RDF and N5: Absolute control (6 t FYM ha-1 commonly applied to all except control treatments) and replicated thrice. The uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was higher under 30 cm × 10 cm spacing (5.74, 1.04 and 3.29 kg ha-1, respectively) and among nutrient levels, application of 125 per cent RDF resulted in statistically higher uptake nitrogen (7.35 kg ha-1), phosphorous (1.33 kg ha-1) and potassium (4.28 kg ha-1). Significantly higher (12.58 %) grain protein content was obtained with application of 125% RDF. Maintaining 30 cm × 10 cm spacing recorded significantly higher grain (2.37 q ha-1) and straw yield (3.65 q ha-1). Application of 125 % RDF resulted in significantly higher straw yield, however significantly higher grain yield (2.73 q ha-1) was obtained under 100% RDF. Application of 100% RDF along with narrow spacing yielding substantially higher gross returns (₹90,776 ha-1), net returns (₹60,021 ha-1), and a commendable B:C ratio of 2.77.