Irrigation Scheduling and Nitrogen Management Practices Affected the Nutrient Concentration of Moth Bean under Arid Ecosystem

Abstract

Efficient utilization of water and fertilizers is important for maximizing yield for moth bean production through improvement the nutrient use efficiency under arid ecosystem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizers on growth, yield and nutrient content of moth bean in the western zone of Rajasthan during 2020 & 2021. Treatments included three levels of nitrogen (N1:15 kg N as basal + foliar spray of urea (2%) at flowering stage, N2: 15 kg N + foliar spray of urea (2%) at pod development stage and N3: 15 kg N + foliar spray of urea (2%) at flowering and pod development stages) and levels three levels of irrigation (I1: single irrigation at branching stage, I2: two irrigation at branching + pod development stages and I3: two irrigation at flowering + pod development stages) were laid down in factorial combinations of randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that 15 kg N + foliar spray of urea (2%) at flowering and pod development stage recorded significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in seed and haulm over 15 kg N + foliar spray of urea (2%) at flowering stage and 15 kg N + foliar spray of urea (2%) at pod development stage. However, the phosphorus content in seed and haulm was not significantly influenced by N3 and statistically equivalent with N2 and N1 during 2020 and 2021. Potassium content in seed showed significant enhancement under N3, while K content in haulm was not affected significantly during 2020 and pooled basis. Further, irrigation management practices did not show any significant improvement on N, P, K content in seed and haulm during years of 2020 and 2021. While, N content in seed and haulm was significantly improved under I2 over I3 and I1 on pooled basis. Thus, 15 kg N as basal application + foliar spray of urea (2%) at flowering and pod development stages with two irrigations at branching + pod development stages improved the nutrient content in moth bean in arid condition.