Open AccessInfluence of Establishment Methods on Yield and Yield Parameters of Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L. Gaertn) in Ward 24, Zaka District
Author(s) -
Nyasha Sakadzo,
Gift Bvekwa,
Kasirayi Makaza
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
agricultural science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2690-5396
pISSN - 2690-4799
DOI - 10.30560/as.v1n1p47
Subject(s) - transplanting , eleusine , panicle , finger millet , randomized block design , kharif crop , agronomy , tiller (botany) , yield (engineering) , mathematics , field experiment , crop , biology , horticulture , sowing , materials science , metallurgy
Finger millet is a climate compliant crop; its production remains low due to poor establishment methods. A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2018/19 at Dorcas Charare plot in ward 24, Zaka district to investigate the effects of establishment methods on yield and yield parameters of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three treatments namely broadcasting, hand drilling and transplanting replicated three times. Results on grain yield showed that transplanting method had the highest yield of 0.51t/ha whilst drilling and broadcasting scored 0.40t/ha and 0.35t/ha respectively. Transplanting method significantly (p<0.05) influenced higher number of tillers (7.13) per hill followed by drilling (2.40) and lastly broadcasting (2.13). Significant differences (p<0.05) were noted on panicle number with transplanting scoring the highest (8.13) and broadcasting the lowest (3.13). It can be concluded from the study that transplanting method realized a higher panicle number, tiller number and grain yield. Farmers must adopt transplanting as an establishment method in finger millet production.