C. AKHIL SAI*, Y. REDDI RAMU, D. SUBRAMANYAM, P. NAGAMANI AND A. V. NAGAVANI

Department of Agronomy, ANGRAU-S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati-517 502.

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted during rabi, 2025-26 on sandy loam soils of S.V Agriculture College, Dry land farm, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh to study the “Sustainable cultivation of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) through natural farming”. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design and replicated thrice. The findings of the experiment revealed that significantly highest growth parameters and yield of finger millet were recorded with application of Ghanajeevamrutham @ 1500 kg ha-1 + Dravajeevamrutham @ 1000 l ha-1 + Sapthadhanyankura kashayam @ 25 l ha-1 at flower bud initiation and grain filling stage (T₁₀), which was however comparable with Ghanajeevamrutham @ 1000 kg ha-1 + Dravajeevamrutham @ 1000 l ha^-1 + Sapthadhanyankura kashayam @ 25 l ha^-1 at flower bud initiation and grain filling stage (T8) and Organic Package – Enriched FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Foliar spray of Panchagavya 5 per cent @ 30 & 45 DAT (T₁₁). Application of Ghanajeevamrutham @ 500 kg ha-1 (T₁) recorded the lowest stature of growth parameters and yield. However, considering the comparable yield performance and economic returns with a lower quantity of Ghanajeevamrutham than application of Ghanajeevamrutham @ 1500 kg ha-1 + Dravajeevamrutham @ 1000 l ha-1 + Sapthadhanyankura kashayam @ 25 l ha-1 at flower bud initiation and grain filling stage (T₁₀), application of Ghanajeevamrutham @ 1000 kg ha-1 + Dravajeevamrutham @ 1000 l ha-1 + Sapthadhanyakura kashayam @ 25 l ha-1 at flower bud initiation and grain filling stages (T₈) was found to be promising and economically viable natural farming practices on sandy loam soils of Southern Agro-Climatic Zone of Andhra Pradesh.

KEYWORDS: Natural farming practices, ghanajeevamrutham, dravajeevamrutham, panchagavya, fish amino acid, sapthadhanyankura kashyam, yield and finger millet.