Effect of spacing and nutrient levels on growth, yield and economics of fodder rice bean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.)]

摘要

A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum to standardize the spacing and nutrient levels of fodder rice bean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.)]. The treatments consisted of three spacing (s(1) - 30 cm x 10 cm, s(2) - 30 cm x 20 cm and s(3) - 30 cm x 30 cm), three levels of nitrogen (n(0) - 0 kg N ha(-1), n(1) - 20 kg N ha(-1) and n(2) - 30 kg N ha(-1)) and three levels of phosphorous (p(0) - 0 kg P2O5 ha(-1), p(1) - 20 kg P2O5 ha(-1) and p(2) - 40 kg P2O5 ha(-1)). Result showed that sowing of rice bean at spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm (s(1)) recorded highest plant height (49.04 cm) at 30 DAS and leaf: stem ratio (0.63) at harvest. The treatment n(1) (20 kg N ha(-1)) resulted in highest plant height and it was on par with n(2) (30 kg N ha(-1)), while leaf to stem ratio was the highest at n(2) at harvest. Similarly the highest green (14.57 t ha(-1)) and dry fodder yield (2.91 t ha(-1)) were recorded at spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm (s(1)) and at n(2) (30 kg N ha(-1)) resulting in greater net returns (Rs. 35,761 ha(-1)) and B:C ratio (3.22).