Effect of Micronutrient Application with Different Sources of NPK on Growth and Yield of Finger Millet Crop in Red Laterite Zone

: A field experiment had been conducted during spring season of 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 at Regional Research Sub-station of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Raghunathpur, Purulia, West Bengal with the objective to study the effect of micronutrient application with different sources of NPK on growth and productivity of finger millet. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two main plot treatments (sources of NPK, F 1 : 100% recommended dose of NPK (RDF) i.e., N:P 2 O 5 :K 2 O, 40:20:20 kg/ha, F 2 : 75% RDF + 2.5 t/ha farmyard manure (FYM)) and six subplot treatments (method and dose of micronutrient application, M 1 : ZnSO 4 at a rate 12.5 kg/ha as soil application, M 2 : ZnSO 4 at a rate 0.5% as foliar spray, M 3 : borax at a rate 10 kg/ha as soil application, M 4 : borax at a rate 0.5% as foliar spray, M 5 : ZnSO 4 at a rate 12.5 kg/ha + borax at a rate 10 kg/ha as soil application and M 6 : ZnSO 4 at a rate 0.5% + borax at a rate 0.5% as foliar spray) with three replications. The results of the experiment indicated (from pooled data) that there was a significant influence of sources of NPK and application of micronutrients on growth and performance of finger millet. The highest grain yield (2.24 and 2.30 t/ha) was recorded by 2.5 t/ha FYM + 75% RDF in combination with ZnSO 4 at a rate 0.5% + borax at a rate 0.5% foliar spray. So, organic and inorganic combination of NPK (75% RDF + 2.5 t/ha FYM) along with foliar application of both the micronutrients (Zn and B) together can boost up the yield and could be recommended for the cultivation of finger millet crop in red and laterite zone of West Bengal.