Effect of phosphorus and sulphur on productivity and profitability of blackgram (Vigna mungo L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2019 at the Research Farm, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) to evaluate the effect of phosphorus and sulphur levels on productivity and profitability of blackgram. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four phosphorus levels viz., 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P/ha, along with three sulphur levels, viz., 10, 20 and 30 kg S/ha, which were replicated thrice. Results revealed that among the P levels, the application of 60 kg P/ha recorded significantly higher number of pods/plant (25.9), number of seeds per pod (5.4), test weight (37.30 g), seed yield/plant (8.26 g), seed yield (1412 kg/ha), stover yield (3542 kg/ha), and biological yield (4954 kg/ha). While among the sulphur levels, application of 30 kg S/ha recorded significantly higher number of pods/plant (23.6), number of seeds/pod (5.1), test weight (36.33 g), seed yield/plant (7.84 g), seed yield (1255 kg/ha), Stover yield (3185 kg/ha), and biological yield (4441 kg/ha). Combined application of 60 kg P/ha and 30 kg S/ha produced significantly highest net returns and benefit-cost ratio. Thus, application of 60 kg P and 30 kg S/ha was found to be the more promising treatment for enhancing the yield in blackgram.