Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
complex fertilizer (19:19:19) @ 0.5% applied during the dryspell condition registered the
highest sorghum grain yield (1378 kg ha -1 ), stover yield (2288 kg ha -1 ), net returns (8748 kg
ha -1 ) and BC ratio (1.42) in rainfed sorghum (K 12) and it was followed by the treatment
sprayed with water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19) @ 0.5% + recommended dose of
micronutrient for foliar spray (ZnSO 4 @ 0.5%) respectively (Table 1.).
The combined fertilizer application through foliar plant nutrition increased yield attributes and
yield of millets. This might be due to the supplementation of plants with three major and
micronutrients together and these elements enhancing most of the metabolic processes. The
supplementation of nitrogen increased the protein formation, phosphorous in the formation of
nucleic acids and energy compounds while potassium influenced the water adjustment and
carbohydrate transportation. The findings corroborated with the findings of Emam and
Zavorakh, (2004) and Hussein et al. (2011).
Effect of foliar plant fertilization of different chemicals on rain water use efficiency (RWUE) of rainfed
sorghum (K 12).
During dryspell condition, the plots treated with foliar application of water-soluble complex
fertilizer (19:19:19) @ 0.5% applied during the dryspell condition recorded higher rainwater
use efficiency (2.84 kg/ha-mm) and it was followed by the treatment applied with water soluble
complex fertilizer (19:19:19) @ 0.5% + recommended dose of micronutrient for foliar spray
(ZnSO4 @ 0.5%), when compared to all other foliar treatments as in the figure.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the foliar application of water-soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19) @
0.5 % registered higher grain and stover yields, net returns, BC ratio and rain water use
efficiency during the dryspell condition in rainfed sorghum (K 12) under deep black soils
condition of Southern zone of Tamil Nadu.
Institutional and policy innovations for accelerated and enhanced impacts
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