Effects of nitrogen management practices on foxtail millet production and economics under foxtail millet-chickpea cropping system in the Tungabhadra project area of Karnataka, India

A field experiment was conducted on clay soils at Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur during 2021-22 and 2022-23 to determine the effects of nitrogen management practices on foxtail millet yield and economics under foxtail millet-chickpea cropping system. One week before to the foxtail millet seeding, the appropriate amount of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures were applied to the soil in accordance with the treatment. Pooled mean data of a two-year study shown that foxtail millet productivity and profitability were greatly increased by various nutrient management strategies. The application of 100% RDF through inorganic fertilizers produced the highest biological yield (6367 kg ha-1), grain yield (2084 kg ha-1), and stover yield (4269 kg ha-1) among the treatments. This was followed by the application of 75% N through inorganic fertilizers + 25% N through organic manures (biological yield: 5697 kg ha-1; grain yield: 1832 kg ha-1 and stover yield: 3875 kg ha-1), both of which were statistically comparable to each other but superior to the other treatments. During the two years of pooled data, a similar pattern was also shown for gross return, net returns and benefit cost ratio. Nonetheless, among the various nutrient management techniques, the foxtail millet crop's harvest index showed non-significant results. So, it is possible to cultivate the crop using a combination of organic manures (25% N) and inorganic fertilizers (75% N) in order to maximize foxtail millet production and economics under the foxtail millet-chickpea cropping system.