Effect of molybdenum on productivity of clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub] varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner
(Rajasthan) during kharif, 2015 on loamy sand soil. There were twenty treatment combinations
consisting of five clusterbean varieties (RGC-936, RGC-1017, RGC-1033, RGC-1002 and RGC-197)
and four levels of molybdenum (control, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg Mo/ha) tested in randomized block
design with three replications. Results revealed that variety RGC-1033 proved significantly superior
to RGC- 936, RGC-1017, RGC-1002 and RGC-197 in respect of dry matter accumulation, growth
indices like CGR, RGR and LAI, pods/plant, seeds/pod and test weight. Similarly, the seed yield
(1862 kg/ha), stover yield (3821 kg/ha) and biological yields (5683 kg/ha) were also significantly
higher with variety RGC-1033. Result showed that molybdenum application at 1.0 kg/ha significantly
increased yield attributes of clusterbean (number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, test weight)
and seed, stover and biological yields. The per cent increase in seed yield with 1.0 kg Mo/ha was
22.1 and 8.0, respectively, over control and 0.5 kg Mo/ha. However, application of 1.5 kg Mo/ha
remained at par with 1.0 kg Mo/ha. Soil application of molybdenum at 1.0 kg/ha gave higher net
returns (Rs. 44813/ha) with higher B:C ratio (2.85) over control and 0.5 kg Mo/ha which was at par
with 1.5 kg Mo/ha (Rs. 42288/ha).