Effect of spacing on seed yield and physiological traits in moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 1997 and 1998 to study the effect of 2 spacings (30 cm x 15 cm and 45 cm x 10 cm) on moth bean [Vigna aconitifolia (Jaeq.) Marcchal] genotypes ('Maru Moth', 'RMO 40' and 'CZM 32E') under rainfed conditions. Closer spacing (30 cm x 15 cm) crop showed higher seed yield (652.5 kg/ha) and dry-matter production (1 812 kg/ha) than 45 cm x 10 cm spacing (seed yield 529 kg/ha and 1 501.5 kg/ha). This was attributed to better utilization of available soil moisture and maintenance of favourable plant water status, which led to high photosynthetic efficiency (17.1 umol/m2/sec) and chlorophyll content (4.50 mg/g dry weight). Genotype 'CZM 32E' showed better seed yield (690 kg/ha), higher photosynthetic rate (17.1 p mol/m2/sec) and favourable plant water status than 'Maru Moth' and 'RMO 40' during both the years.