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Nutrient Management :: Ragi

Ragi (Eleusine coracana): Irrigated

Preparation of Main Field
1. Application of FYM or Compost

Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith evenly on the unploughed field and then plough and incorporate in the soil.
NOTE: Do not spread and leave the manure uncovered in the field as nutrients will be lost.

2. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS

  • Soil test based fertilizer recommendations may be adopted in Western and North Western Zones in soils of Vertisols, Alfisols, Inceptisols and Entisols for prescribing the fertilizer doses for specified yield targets. In soils having high intensive cropping system viz., Ragi-Maize-Cowpea, having high soil available K potassium need not be applied. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test recommendation is not available, adopt a blanket recommendation of 60 kg N, 30 kg PO5 and 30 kg K2O per ha.
  • Apply half the dose of N and full dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O and basally before planting.
  • Broadcast the fertilizer mixture over the field before the last ploughing and incorporate into the soil by working a country plough.
  • Apply 10 packets/ha (2000 g) of azospirillum and 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000 g/ha) after mixing with 25 kg of soil and 25 kg FYM before transplanting.

3. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE

  • Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg/ha.
  • Apply the mixture evenly on the beds.
  • Do not incorporate the mixture in the soil.

4. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD

Root dipping with Azospirillum:  Prepare slurry with 5 packets (1000 g/ha) of Azospirillum and 5 packets (1000g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 10 packets of Azophos (2000 g/ha) in 40 litres of water and dip the root portion of the seedlings in the solution for 15-30 minutes and transplant.


RAGI : RAINFED

1. Manuring and fertilization

Finger millet responds well to fertilizer application especially to N and P.
The recommended doses of fertilizers vary from state to state for rainfed crop. Apply recommended dose of 40:20:20 N:P:K kg/ha was applied. With judicious application of farmyard manure, inorganic fertilizer efficiency is enhanced.

Entire P2O5 and K2O are to be applied at sowing, whereas nitrogen is to be applied in two or three split doses depending upon moisture availability.

In areas of good rainfall and moisture availability, 50% of recommended nitrogen is to be applied at sowing and the remaining 50% in two equal splits at 25-30 and 40-45 days after sowing.

In areas of uncertain rainfall, 50% at sowing and the remaining 50% around 35 days after sowing is recommended.

2. Bio-fertilizers

Treating seeds with Azospirillum brasilense (N fixing bacterium) and Aspergillus awamori (P solubilizing fungus) @ 25 g/kg seed is beneficial.

In case seeds are to be treated with seed dressing chemicals, treat the seeds first with seed dressing chemicals and then with bio-fertilizers at the time of sowing.

3. Procedures for inoculating seeds with biofertilizers

  1. Bio-fertilizer culture specific to the crop is to be used @ 25 g per kg of seed.
  2. Sticker solution is necessary for effective seed inoculation. This can be prepared by dissolving 25 g jaggery or sugar in 250 ml water and boiling for 5 minutes. The solution thus prepared is cooled.
  3. Smear the seeds well using the required quantity of sticker solution. Then add culture to the seeds and mix thoroughly so as to get a fine coating of culture on the seed.
  4. The culture-coated seeds is to be dried well in shade to avoid clumping of seeds.
  5. Use the inoculated seeds for sowing.
 

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