Effect of foliar application of nutrients on yield, nutrient uptake and economics of pre-winter blackgram (Vigna mungo)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Main Research Farm, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, during pre-winter season of 2019, to optimize nutrient-management practices through foliar feeding in ‘Mahuri’ blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] cultivar. The treatments were soil test-based fertilizer recommendation (STBFR), STBFR + 2% NPK (19 : 19 : 19) once, STBFR + 2% NPK (19 : 19 : 19) twice, STBFR + 0.2% Borax spray, STBFR + 0.5% ZnSO₄ spray, STBFR + 0.2% Borax + 0.5% ZnSO₄ spray, STBFR + 2% NPK + 0.2% Borax spray, STBFR + 2% NPK + 0.5% ZnSO₄ spray, STBFR + 2% NPK + 0.2% Borax + 0.5% ZnSO₄ spray, water spray (control). Application of STBFR + 2% NPK (19 : 19 : 19) + 0.2% Borax + 0.5% ZnSO₄ spray prior to anthesis resulted in the maximum seed yield (804 kg/ha) and stover yield (1,648 kg/ha). Maximum number of nodules/plant (12.2), pods/plant (33.4) and seeds/pod (7.73) were obtained from the same treatment. An uptake of 63.2 kg N, 6.25 kg P, 36.0 kg K, 0.75 kg Zn and 0.62 kg B/ha was recorded under the nutrient-management practice of STBFR + 2% NPK (19 : 19 : 19) + 0.2% Borax + 0.5% ZnSO4 spray. Similarly, the maximum net returns of `21,224/ha and benefit : cost ratio of 1.89 were obtained under the same treatment.