Evolving Promising Redgram (Cajanas cajan L.) Transplanting Techniques for Better Crop Establishment under Resource Constraint Dryland Areas of Southern India

Abstract

Background: Redgram a predominant dryland crop is vulnerable to the whims of rainfall at initial stages of crop growth. Moreover, the wider spacing promotes transplanting over conventional method but, appropriate nursery technique is yet to be standardised to prevent root coiling which leads to poor plant stand under main field conditions. Methods: A field experiment was conducted during 2020-21 at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai to identify suitable nursery techniques for raising redgram seedlings. Redgram was raised in poly bag, 98 cone protray, 50 cone protray and high density poly ethylene (HDPE) woven fabric mat for 20 and 30 days before transplanting. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design replicated thrice. Result: The results revealed that, raising redgram seedlings in HDPE woven fabric mat and transplanting at 20 DAS resulted in lesser root length, root volume but with lesser root coiling coefficient which is highly favourable. Moreover, after being transplanted the seedlings recorded higher plant height, leaf area index with increased photosynthetic activity, respiration andchlorophyll content. Similarly, higher yield and benefit cost ratio was attained over the conventional line sowing. Therefore, raising red gram seedlings in HDPE woven fabric mat can be considered as a cost-effective technology to attain higher yields and with the possibility to gap fill under poor seedling establishment without differential harvest maturity under the dry land tracts of southern Tamil Nadu, India.