Phosphorous Fertilization Influenced Weeds Attributes and Phenological Characteristics of Mungbean Cultivars (Vigna radiata L.)

Abstract

Weeds are abundant in nature having supreme growth characters over the other economic crop. Weeds show aggressive behavior in term of growth, development, reproduction and for water and nutrients uptake through which dominantly spread over the ground and reduced yield of the economic crop. Weeds frequency and density responded positively to phosphorous application and may retard the production potential of the economic crop. Therefore present study was established in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Agriculture Extension Demonstration plot Matta Circle Swat Pakistan, in summer 2014. Five levels of phosphorous (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg ha–1) with one control in the form of single super phosphate (SSP) and three cultivars of mungbean (SWAT-I, SWAT-II and NM-54) were used during the experiment. Results revealed that weeds density and phenological traits of mungbean varied with P2O5 application. A linear increase in weeds density was observed with increase in P2O5 levels. Fewer days to flowering (40 days) were observed in plots received P at the rate of 80 and 100 kg ha–1 followed by 60, 40, 20 and 0 kg P ha–1, while more (44 days) were recorded in control plots. In case of varieties late flowering (42 days) was observed in variety SWAT I followed by SWAT-II, while early flowering (41 days) was recorded in cultivar NM-54. Minimum days (48 days) to pods formation was noticed in P2O5 at the rate of 80 and 100 kg ha–1, while more days (52 days) to pod formation were recorded in control plots. In case of varieties NM-54 took less days (49 days) while SWAT-I were statistically at par. Highest plant height (73.9 cm) was recorded with 60 kg P ha–1 while at par plant height was noted at the rate of 80 and 100 kg P2O5 ha–1. Shorter plant height (57.3 cm) was recorded in control plots. Maximum leaves plant–1 (23) were noted at the rate of 80 kg ha–1, while control plots produced minimum number of leaves plant–1 (16). In case of mungbean varieties SWAT-I produce maximum leaves plant–1 (21) followed by SWAT-II (20), while NM-54 produced minimum leaves plant–1 (19). Biological yield (3978 kg ha–1) was obtained in the plots treated with 80 kg P ha–1 while the minimum biological yield (2668 kg ha–1) was recorded in control plots. Among the varieties SWAT-I produced maximum biological yield (3551 kg ha–1) followed by SWAT-II (3440 kg ha–1) and NM-54 (3317 kg ha–1) respectively.