Vol. 8, Issue 11, Part L (2024)

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.), a versatile minor millet, plays a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture due to its resilience, nutritional richness, and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions. This study was conducted at the Centre for Organic Agriculture Research and Training (COART), PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, during the Rabi season of 2023–24, to evaluate the impact of organic nutrient management on its growth, yield, and quality. The experiment was planned in Randomized Block Design with nine treatments and three replications, including combinations of 100% and 50% Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN) applied through vermicompost, Jeevamrut, and Panchgavya, alongside a control treatment.

The findings demonstrated significant improvement in growth parameters such as plant height, number of tillers, leaf area, and dry matter production under organic treatments, particularly when 100% RDN through vermicompost, Jeevamrut, and Panchgavya was applied (T₈). This treatment resulted in the highest plant height (94.32 cm), number of tillers (68.30 m⁻²), leaf area (63.12 cm² plant⁻¹), and dry matter accumulation (43.77 g plant⁻¹) at harvest, outperforming other treatments and the control. Moreover, the yield parameters showed remarkable enhancement under organic nutrient management. The highest grain yield (1560 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (6206 kg ha⁻¹), and harvest index (20.7%) were recorded in T₈, signifying the superior performance of the combined application of vermicompost, Jeevamrut, and Panchgavya. This improvement is attributed to better panicle length, increased panicle weight per plant, and higher grain weight per plant, indicating a robust response to organic inputs in nutrient cycling and plant productivity.

This research aligns with the United Nations' declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, showcasing the potential of foxtail millet as a climate-resilient crop. The study provides valuable insights into organic farming practices that contribute to food security, environmental sustainability, and nutritional well-being, particularly in semi-arid and resource-limited regions.