Improved varietal selection and optimum soil application of Zn enhance mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) productivity and profitability

Abstract

Mungbean varieties differed in growth, yield attributing characters and yield and responded differently with the addition of zinc. The present investigation was planned and executed in factorial randomized block design where in, four varieties of mungbean (‘GM 4’, ‘GAM 5’, ‘GM 6’ and ‘IPM 02-3’) and seven levels of zinc (control, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 kg ha^-1) were undertaken and replicated thrice. Recording of LAI at 25, 50 DAS and at harvest stage were also improved significantly by the variety ‘GM 6’ over other varieties and the values fetched were 0.67, 3.33 and 3.17, respectively. Among mungbean varieties, ‘GM 6’ recorded significant improvement in number of nodules plant^-1 (21.15 and 26.48) and nodule dry weight (47.59 and 73.19 mg plant^-1) at 25 and 50 DAS of growth stages over rest of the varieties. Significant improvement in yield attributes of mungbean viz., pod length (10.42 cm), number of grains pod^-1 (11.46) and 1,000 grains weight (50.63 g) were attained by the variety ‘GM 6’ over rest of the varieties undertaken in the experimentation. Similarly, significantly higher grain (1,313.72 kg ha^-1) and stover (3,016.63 kg ha^-1) yield were also recorded by the variety ‘GM 6’ over other varieties. Among varying levels of zinc applied to mungbean, application of zinc at 5 kg ha^-1 substantially enhanced leaf area index (0.64, 3.45 and 3.28) at 25, 50 DAS and at harvest, respectively. Furthermore, number of nodules plant^-1 (21.81 and 26.65), nodules dry weight (48.23 and 73.82 mg plant^-1) at 25 and 50 DAS was also recorded substantially higher over preceding levels of zinc. Moreover, significant improvement in yield attributing characters viz., pod length (9.97 cm), number of grains pod^-1 (10.49), 1,000 grains weight (51.08 g), grain yield (1,196.81 kg ha^-1) and stover yield (2,861.93 kg ha^-1) were recorded with the application of zinc at 5 kg ha-1 over control and preceded levels of zinc. Optimization of zinc under the study envisage highest yield of mungbean at optimum economic dose (Y_opt) by the variety ‘GM 6’ (1,413.01 kg ha^-1) followed by ‘GM 4’ (1,210.02 kg ha^-1). Furthermore, highest response in terms of kg grain kg^-1 zinc applied was recorded by the variety ‘GM 6’ (249.67) followed by ‘GM 4’ (213.91). Therefore, it is recommended to work out the optimization of zinc for the mungbean varieties to realize higher productivity and profitability