Influence of Row Spacing and Seed Rate on Yield and Yield Components of Finger Millet at Assosa Zone in Benshagul Gumuze Region of Ethiopia

Abstract

Information on the response of finger millet  to row spacing  and seed rate  in the Assosa Zone is scanty. Field experiments were conducted at two locations, for two years at each location, to investigate the response of finger millet to row spacing  and seed rate. Three seed rates (5, 15, 25 kg/ha) and four row spacing   (20, 30, 40 and 50 cm) were studied in factorial combinations in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with triplicates. The results revealed substantial responses of finger millet to the interaction of seed rate & row spacing   on plant height ,number of finger per ear, total biomass and grain yield. The finger millet  height(p<0.05) ,number of finger per ear(p<0.05), total biomass(p<0.01) and grain yield(p<0.01) increased significantly. Grain yield highly significantly increased (p<0.01) from 1499.3to 1926.8^a kg ha^-1 with decrease the seed rate from the broadcast (25) to 15 kg ha^-1.  The highest grain yield of (1926.8 kg ha^-1) was obtained from the seed rate 15kg/ha@40cm row spacing. In addition to this; partial budget analysis showed that at the current cost of the grain and straw yield of finger millet, planting 15 kg/ha seed rate of finger millet in 40 cm row spacing gave the first highest net benefit. The magnitude of increase in grain yield over the broadcast due to application of 15 kg seed per hectare & 40 cm spacing between rows  were 22.2 % (427.5 kg ha-1) (Table. 2). Therefore, it can be concluded that the row spacing of 40 cm and the seed rate of 15 kg ha^-1 is advisable and could be appropriate for finger millet production in the test area even though further testing is required to put the recommendation on a strong basis.