Nutrient management of spring-summer blackgram (Vigna mungo) with cobalt, potassium and boron under different dates of sowing in Eastern India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, during spring-summer seasons of 2020 and 2021, to study the effect of Co, K, B and date of sowing on blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]. The experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design, comprising 2 sowing dates in March with 15 days interval in main plot, 2 levels of soil application of Co at 4 kg/ha in subplots and 5 levels of foliar spray of 1.25% K and 0.2% B in sub-subplots. Pooled analysis of 2 years indicated that, the crop sown in March first week showed significantly higher (P>0.05) dry-matter (236.5 g/m² ), pods/plant (33.8), seed yield (1.3 t/ha) and protein content (23.2%) with a longer crop duration over the crop sown in March third week. Soil Co application and foliar K + B spray separately recorded higher seed yield (1.3 and 1.5 t/ha) and protein content (23.4 and 25.6%) respectively. Sowing of blackgram in the March first week with soil Co and foliar K + B application could improve its production potential in Gangetic plains of Eastern India.