Nutrient fortification in rainfed blackgram for economic optimization

Abstract

Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) is a widely grown grain legume, having considerable importance from the point of food and nutritional security in the world. It is an important short-duration pulse crop typically grown in rainy (kharif) season in India. Balanced nutrition is of utmost importance to escalate its economic yield potential. A 2-year experiment was conducted at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal to find out the effect of cobalt (Co), potassium (K) and boron (B) on growth, yield, quality and production economics of autumn sown blackgram under Gangetic alluvium soil with application of Co in soil and foliar nutrition of K and B. It was found that soil incorporation of Co at 4 kg/ha combined with foliar spray of 1.25% K + 0.2% B facilitated substantial growth and yield in a cost-effective way in eastern India. This unique nutrient combination may be a cost-effective option for the resource poor farmers to harness higher production in autumn grown rainfed blackgram.