Includes bibliographical references.

To study the effect of establishment techniques and nutrient sources on foxtail millet varieties a field experiment was carried out during Kharif, 2023 at Experimental Farm of College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences - (CAU-Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya during Kharif, 2023. The study comprised of two varieties viz., SiA 3156 (V1) and Rajendra Kauni 1 (V2), two method of establishment viz., direct sowing (E1) and transplanting (E2) and four nutrient sources viz., Control (N0), RDF @40:20:20 kg ha-1 N: P2O5: K2O (N1), FYM @5 tha-1 (N2) and Beejamrutha + Jeevamrutha @500 L ha-1 (at every 20 days interval) (N3) laid out in factorial randomized block design and replicated three times. Experimental findings revealed that all the crop growth parameters such as plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation were significantly influenced by establishment techniques and nutrient sources while both the varieties remined at par for these growth attributes. Growth rates measured during investigation as CGR, RGR and NAR; CGR differed significantly due to establishment methods and nutrient sources; and RGR and NAR differed significantly due to establishment methods at 30-45 DAS, while attainment of the three important development stages viz., days to emergence, flowering and physiological maturity remains at par due to all the factor under investigation. Trends of influence of the factors under investigation on yield attributes of the foxtail millet (measured as no. of panicles plant, panicle length, no. of grains per panicle, no. of filled grains per panicle, grain weight per plant) was also on the line of growth parameters for no. of panicle per plant, no. of grains per panicle, no. of filled grains per panicle and grain weight per plant. However, test weight of the crop remained at par. Observations on biological yield, grain yield and straw yield revealed that these yields remain at par between both the varieties but in establishment techniques, transplanted foxtail millet recorded significantly higher biological yield (4.74 t ha-1), grain yield (1.18 t ha-1) and straw yield (3.57 t ha-1) over the same recorded from line sowing foxtail millet (3.71 t ha-1, 0.91 t ha-1 and 2.80 t ha-1 of biological, grain and straw yield, respectively). Among nutrient sources, organic sources (N2) recorded significantly high biological yield (4.52 t ha-1), grain yield (1.12 t ha-1) and straw yield (3.39 t ha-1) over the same recorded from natural source (biological yield 3.98 t ha-1, grain yield 0.97 t ha-1 and straw yield 3.01 t ha-1). However, 16.07% grain yield declined in organic source in comparison to inorganic source (1.30 t ha-1). Soil bio-chemical properties after crop harvest remain unaffected due to varieties. However, relatively higher available N, P, K content in the soil after harvest was recorded in line sowing over transplanting and natural nutrient source (N3) recorded largest amount of available N, P and K in soil after harvest of crop. A beneficial change in soil biochemical properties was observed in natural (N3) and organic (N2) nutrient source over inorganic source (N1) and control (N0). Both the varieties under investigation produced statistically similar net return and B: C ratio. However, in between the establishment techniques highest net return (₹ 18493 ha-1) and B: C ratio (1.81) was worked out with transplanting foxtail millet over line sowing. Among nutrient sources, net return and B: C ratio recorded in inorganic source (₹ 21323 ha-1; 1.88) and organic source (₹ 18216 ha-1; 1.85) was at par and significantly higher over natural source (₹ 12961 ha-1; 1.61). However, in organic source 17.06% net return and 1.62% B: C ratio declined in comparison to inorganic source, while lowest net return (₹ 6155 ha-1) and B: C ratio (1.29) were worked out with control.