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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp9 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Performance of finger millet varieties under system of crop intensification in ragi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.17548
Submitted
20 August 2026
Published
21-10-2026

Abstract

A field study was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024 at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, to evaluate the performance of finger millet varieties under different planting geometries following the system of crop intensification (SCI) (guli method). The experiment was conducted in a factorial randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, comprising six varieties, viz., Unde ragi, Picchakaddi ragi, Jagalur ragi, GPU 48, GPU 66 and MR 6 and three planting geometries, viz., 30 × 10 cm, 25 × 25 cm and 30 × 30 cm. The varieties, planting geometries and their interaction significantly influenced the major growth and yield attributes of finger millet. Among varieties, MR 6 recorded the highest plant height (110.73 cm), number of tillers hill-1 (9.39), dry matter production (71.22 g hill-1) and grain yield (3427 kg ha-1) and which on par with GPU 66. Among planting geometries, 30 × 30 cm recorded the higher number of tillers hill-1 (9.06), dry matter production (68.14 g hill-1), grain yield (3279 kg ha-1) and straw yield (4479 kg ha-1). Significant variety × planting geometry interaction was observed for grain and straw yields. The MR 6 with 30 × 30 cm combination recorded the highest grain yield (4231 kg ha-1) and straw yield                      (5431 kg ha-1) and which was on par with GPU 66 planted at 30 × 30 cm. Thus, MR 6 and GPU 66 planted at 30 × 30 cm under the SCI method were identified as promising combinations for enhancing sustainable and efficient finger millet production under rainfed conditions.

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