Effect of sowing dates, seed rates and integrated nutrition on productivity, profitability and nutrient uptake of summer mungbean in Eastern Himalaya

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in the summer seasons of 2010–2012 at north eastern hilly region of Jharnapani, India, to evaluate the effect of sowing dates, seed rates and integrated nutrition on productivity, profitability and nutrient uptake of summer mungbean. Experimental results revealed that 5th April sown crop recorded significantly higher growth attributes, yield, and economics than 15th April sown crop. This was mainly because of the fact that almost all the yield attributing characters were favourably influenced because of early sowing and, therefore, yield increased. Similarly, 5th April sown crop resulted in higher cation exchange capacity (CEC) of roots, root N content, nitrogenase activity (NA), total uptake of N, P, K and protein yield than the 15th April sown crop. Higher yield and economics were found with seed rates of 35 kg ha−1, whereas CEC of roots, root N content and NA were higher at 20 kg ha−1. Application of 50% RDF (recommended dose of fertilizer) + 50% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen as vermicompost) + PSB (phosphate solubilizing bacteria) produced significantly higher growth attributes, yield and economics of mungbean.