Physiological parameters and yield of greengram Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek as influenced by increased plant density and fertilizer levels Sathyamoorthi K.1, Amanullah M. Mohamed2, Vaiyapuri K.2, Somasundaram E.1 1Coconut Research Station, Aliyarnagar, 642 101. 2Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003, Tamil Nadu, India. Corresponding editor: Bhudev Singh, DWR, Karnal.
Abstract Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2002, rabi 2002 and summer 2003 at the College of Agricultural Engineering, Kumulur, Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu to study the effect of increased plant density and nutrient management on the physiological parameters and yield of greengram. Three inter row spacings of 20 cm (S1), 25 cm (S2) and 30 cm (S3) with a constant intra row spacing of 10 cm accommodating 5.0, 4.0 and 3.33 lakh plants ha−1 were tried in the main plot. The treatments tried in sub plot were recommended N and P (N1), N1 with foliar spraying of one per cent sulphate of potash (SOP) (N2), N1 with soil application of 25 kg K2O ha−1 as muriate of potash (MOP) (N3), 125 per cent N and P with foliar spraying of one per cent SOP (N4), 150 per cent N and P with foliar spraying of one per cent SOP (N5) and 50 per cent N and P with foliar spraying of two per cent Diammonium phosphate (DAP) and one per cent SOP (N6). The treatments were fitted in a split plot design replicated thrice. The results of the experiments revealed that transpiration rate increased with decrease in plant population. Nutritent management practices did not influence the transpiration rate. SDR was the highest with the higher population of 5.0 lakh plants ha−1. Application of 150 or 125 per cent NP along with foliar sprays had the lowest SDR. Canopy bottom light quantum increased with reduction in population from 5.0 to 3.33 lakh plants ha−1, but the differential light quantum showed reversing trend. Canopy bottom light quantum was the lowest and differential light quantum was the highest with 150 per cent recommended NP along with foliar sprays and comparable with 125 per cent NP along with foliar sprays. Grain and bhusa yield were higher at higher plant density. Application of 125 per cent NP along with foliar sprays during kharif 2002 and summer 2003 and 150 per cent NP with foliar sprays during rabi 2002 recorded higher grain and bhusa yield. Top Key words Greengram, increased plant density, fertilizer levels, physiological parameters, yield. Top |