Includes bibliographical references.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for crop growth and development, as it is involved in many aspects of plant metabolism, including the formation of chlorophyll, respiration, cell wall growth, photosynthesis, enzyme activity, and other biochemical processes. However, in 49% of Indian soils, zinc deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency, accounting for over one-third of the nation's acidic soils. In North-East India, where 60% of acidic soils is deficient in adequate zinc, the situation is considerably worse and contributing to lowers crop yield in the area.Human zinc insufficiency is also correlated with this deficiency, particularly in developing nations like India where cereal grains are the primary source of energy. Keeping these considerations, a field experiment was carried out at the research farm of CPGS-AS, CAU, Umiam, Meghalaya during kharif 2023 to investigate the influence of zinc enriched organics on soil properties and performance of foxtail millet. Three organics i.e. FYM, Vermicompost and Beejamrutha enriched with zinc through zinc sulphate were used in this study. FYM and Vermicompost (50 kg ha-1 each) were applied in the soil whereas Beejamrutha was used for seed treatment. There were 8 combinations of treatment viz., T1: RDF, T2: RDF + seed treatment with (Beejamrutha @ 3% enriched with ZnSO4 @ 0.5%), T3: T2 + FYM enriched with ZnSO4 @ 5 kg ha-1, T4: T2 + FYM enriched with ZnSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1, T5: T2 + FYM enriched with ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1, T6: T2 + Vermicompost enriched with ZnSO4 @ 5 kg ha-1, T7: T2 + Vermicompost enriched with ZnSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1, T8: T2 + Vermicompost enriched with ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1. The treatments were replicated three times in Randomized Block Design. Foxtail millet variety SIA 3156 was raised as test crop. The experimental soil exhibited pH 5.05, organic carbon content 0.73%, available N, P and K was 234.60, 17.29 and 227.56 kg ha-1 respectively. The results revealed that plant height (cm) significantly improved with the application of enriched organics at all the stages of observation and minimum (15.67 cm) and maximum (110.28 cm) values were associated with the treatments T1 and T8, respectively. Among the organics investigated in the study, soil application of 100% RDF + Zn enriched vermicompost @ 15 kg ha-1+ seed treatment by beejamrutha @3% enriched with ZnSO4 @ 0.5% exhibited the tallest plants at all stages of growth (30, 60 DAS and harvest) of foxtail millet. Highest dry matter yield (3044.14 kg ha-1) was recorded under treatment 8. Similarly, Treatment 8(T8) also led to the longest ear head (17.9 cm) and the highest ear head weight (5.43 g) compared to other treatments. Further, it was observed that the plant height, ear head length and ear head weight obtained in T6 was statistically at par with T4. Grain yield and stover yield were recorded highest in T8 (T2 + soil application of vermicompost enriched with ZnSO4 @ 15kg ha-1). The uptake of N, P and K by foxtail millet was also higher in T8 followed by T7>T5>T6>T4>T3>T2>T1. Zn content was found to be more in grain as compared to straw. Treatment 8(T8), which included soil application of 100% RDF +Zn enriched vermicompost + seed treatment with Zn enriched beejamrutha, resulted in the highest uptake of zinc by grain and straw. Further, in post-harvest soil, T8 (RDF +Zn enriched vermicompost @15 kg ha-1 + seed treatment by Zn enriched beejamrutha) resulted in highest available Zn. On the basis of the results obtained in the present investigation, it may be suggested to integrate enriched organic sources with inorganic fertilizers to achieve higher yields of foxtail millet. This approach not only enhances yield but also improves the zinc fertility status of the soil as well as different physico-chemical properties of soil.