Influence of Establishment Methods on Yield and Yield Parameters of Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L. Gaertn) in Ward 24, Zaka District

Abstract

Finger millet is a climate compliant crop; its production remains low due to poor establishment methods. A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2018/19 at Dorcas Charare plot in ward 24, Zaka district to investigate the effects of establishment methods on yield and yield parameters of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three treatments namely broadcasting, hand drilling and transplanting replicated three times. Results on grain yield showed that transplanting method had the highest yield of 0.51t/ha whilst drilling and broadcasting scored 0.40t/ha and 0.35t/ha respectively. Transplanting method significantly (p<0.05) influenced higher number of tillers (7.13) per hill followed by drilling (2.40) and lastly broadcasting (2.13). Significant differences (p<0.05) were noted on panicle number with transplanting scoring the highest (8.13) and broadcasting the lowest (3.13). It can be concluded from the study that transplanting method realized a higher panicle number, tiller number and grain yield. Farmers must adopt transplanting as an establishment method in finger millet production.

Effect of Planting Methods on Grain Yield and Crop Management in Finger Millet

“…This is consistent with the results obtained by Maobe, Nyang'au, Basweti, Getabu et al (2014) where transplanted finger millet had higher tiller formation which in turn influenced productive panicle formation and increased the overall grain yield. Similar results were obtained by Awan, Ali, Safdar, Ashraf et al (2007), and Sakadzo, Bvekwa, and Makaza (2019).…”

“…As indicated earlier, this can be due to the higher moisture and larger space available in the transplanted method that aid in the efficient use of water, air, and nutrients, resulting in better growth and development. This is supported by the findings of Sakadzo et al (2019) and Michaelraj and Shanmugam (2013) where mean finger length was recorded as the highest in transplanted millets as against their broadcast counterparts. A study by Tamilmozhi, Karthikeyan, Sakthivel, and V Ravichandran (2020) on the influence of seedling age, planting pattern, and the number of seedlings per hill on the growth and yield of finger millet under Tamil Nadu conditions in India also supports these results.…”