Effect of Dates of Sowing and Plant Geometry on Yield and Economics of Ricebean (Vigna umbellata L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2022 at College of Agriculture, Kalaburagi to evaluate the effect of dates of sowing and plant geometry on yield and economics of ricebean. The experiment was laid out in Split plot design with three replications. The experiment was comprised of two factors viz., dates of sowing in main plot with four dates i.e. second fortnight of July, first fortnight of August, second fortnight of August and first fortnight of September and spacing in sub plot with three plant geometry i.e. 30 cm x 10 cm, 45 cm x 10 cm and 60 cm x 10 cm. The results of the experiment indicated that ricebean sown during first fortnight of August recorded significantly higher seed yield and stover yield (1016 kg ha-1 and 2574 kg ha-1, respectively) besides higher gross returns (₹. 63547 ha-1), net returns (₹. 39300 ha-1) and Benefit Cost ratio (2.62). Among different plant geometry, 30 cm x 10 cm recorded significantly higher seed and stover yield (1009 kg ha-1 and 2302 kg ha-1, respectively) besides higher gross returns (₹. 62852 ha-1), net returns (₹ 38205 ha-1) and BC ratio (2.55). Further, it was onpar with 45 cm x 10 cm plant geometry (989 kg ha-1, 2253 kg ha-1, ₹. 61583 ha-1, ₹. 37355 ha-1 & 2.54, seed yield, stover yield, gross returns, net returns & BC ratio, respectively). The interaction between dates of sowing and plant geometry on yield attributes, yield and economics was found non significant.