EFFECT OF JALSHAKTI ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF FINGER MILLET (ELEUSINE-CORACANA) AND LITTLE MILLET (PANICUM-MILIACEUM) AT PLATEAU REGION OF BIHAR

The field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 1986 and 1987 to study the response of jalshakti on growth and yield of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] and little millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) in marginal acidic sandy-loam soils at Ranchi. Jalshakti @ 4 kg/ha through furrow placement gave the maximum grain yield of finger millet. Application of jalshakti @ 8 kg/ha as furrow placement gave maximum grain yield of little millet, closely followed by jalshakti @ 10 g/kg seed as seed treatment + 8 kg/ha as furrow application. The increase in grain yields of finger millet and little millet due to application of jalshakti under different rates and methods were 5.4-26.1 and 7.9-33.6% respectively. Only grain weight/ear or panicle of 2 crops among yield components responded significantly to jalshakti. The highest values were recorded with jalshakti @ 4 kg/ha as furrow placement + @ 20 g/kg seed as seed treatment and @ 8 kg/ha as furrow placement + @ 20 g/kg seed as seed treatment in finger millet and little millet respectively. This parameter finally contributed to increased grain yield of the crops.