Chemical Science Review and Letters ISSN 2278-6783 DOI:10.37273/chesci.CS20510145 Chem Sci Rev Lett 2020, 9 (34), 283-297 Article cs20510145 283 Research Article Yield and Economics of Finger Millet as Influenced by Crop Residue Composting K. Aparna 1 *, K. Bhanu Rekha 2 , K.P. Vani 3 and T. Ram Prakash 2 1*, 2 and 3 Agricultural College, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-30 (Telangana) 2 AICRP on Weed Management, Rajendrangar, PJTSAU, Telangana Introduction Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) commonly known as “nutritious millet” is the fourth important small millet crop grown globally after sorghum, pearl millet and foxtail millet.It has the pride of place among millets due to highest productivity and is nutritionally superior to many cereals in terms of proteins, minerals, iron, calcium (8-10 times more calcium than wheat or rice) and vitamins. Grain has unique character of slow digestibility and slow releasing pattern of sugar into blood stream, thus recommended for diabetic patients Karuppaswamy, 2015 [1]. Ragi is low in phytic acid and rich in dietary fibre. As the millets are commonly consumed by the poor, they guard them against food and nutritional deficiency imposed due to various agronomic and socio - economic and political factors. Millets can thus, act as a shield against nutritional deficiency disorders and provide nutritional security. Therefore, millets could be one of the better options for overcoming problem of malnutrition in India in the present context of climate change owing to their drought hardiness, shorter duration and tolerance to high temperatures. In Telangana state, cotton, red gram and castor are the major kharif crops cultivated under rainfed situations. The stubbles of these crops are generally very strong and pose serious problem for removal and hence, burnt for ease and to facilitate towards timely land preparation for the rabi crops. Burning of crop residues/stubbles leads to loss of nutrients and organic matter apart from damaging microflora present in the topsoil. Crop residues form the alternate potent organic source for nutrient substitution through composting and it reduces the pollution generated through burning them. Keeping, the above points in view the present experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of compost prepared from cotton and redgram stubbles in combination with inorganic fertilizers on yield and economics of finger millet. Abstract A field experiment was conducted during rabi, 2018-19 at Student Farm, College of Agriculture. Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The experimental soil was sandy clay loam texture with pH 7.46, EC0.36 dS m -1 and OC (0.67 %). The soil was low in available nitrogen (260.0 kg ha -1 ), medium in available phosphorus (45.1 kg ha -1 ) and high in available potassium (521.0 kg ha -1 ). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with eight treatments and replicated thrice.The results revealed that, conjunctive use of inorganics and organics through crop residue composting significantly influenced the yield and economics of finger millet. Application of 75% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen) + 25% N through cotton stubbles vermicompost + 2% rockphosphate recorded significantly higher grain (3540 kg ha -1 ) and straw yield (5899 kg ha -1 ) and it was on par with 75% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen) + 25% N through cotton stubbles vermicompost (3402 kg ha -1 and 5753 kg ha -1 respectively), 75% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen) + 25% N through redgram stubbles vermicompost + 2% rockphosphate (3231 kg ha -1 and 5595 kg ha -1 respectively) and 75% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen) + 25% N through redgram stubbles vermicompost (3114 kg ha -1 and 5542 kg ha -1 respectively). While the lowest grain (1453 kg ha -1 ) and straw yield (3737 kg ha -1 ) were recorded with control plot with no nitrogen application. Similarly highest gross returns ( 72931ha -1 ), net returns ( 49772 ha -1 ) and B: C ratio (3.15) were accrued from T 7 - 75% RDN +25% N through cotton stubbles vermicompost + 2% rock phosphate and it was on par with T 5 - 75% RDN +25% N through cotton stubbles vermicompost. Keywords: Finger millet, integrated nutrient management, crop residue composting, redgram and cotton stubbles vermicompost, FYM, vermicompost. yield and economics of finger millet. *Correspondence Author: K. Aparna Email: duvvuriaparna19@gmail.com