Acid Soil Management for Improvement of Yield and Soil Nutrient in Black gram (Vigna mungo L.) Cultivation in Dibrugarh District of Assam, India

Abstract

Black gram is widely grown in Dibrugarh district of Assam. However, existing soil acidic condition limits nutrient uptake and profitable production of the crop. An experiment was conducted during kharif season (September - November) of 2024 at farmers field’ in Dibrugarh district of Assam, India to manage soil acidity by application of lime amendment for yield improvement of black gram (Vigna mungo L.). The experiment was consisted of three treatments T1: Lime 489 kg ha-1+2% urea spray at pod initiation stage + Recommended dose of fertilizer (15: 35: 15 kg ha-1), T2: Recommended dose of fertilizer (15:35:15 kg ha-1) and T3: Control: Farmers’ practice (manure 1 t ha-1). The On-Farm Trials were conducted in randomized complete block design. The results revealed that application of lime 489 kg ha-1+2% urea spray at pod initiation stage + Recommended dose of fertilizer (15: 35: 15 kg ha-1) recorded significantly higher yield followed by only recommended dose of fertilizer (15:35:15 kg ha-1) and farmers’ practice. The yield increased significantly with application of lime combined with recommended doses of fertilizer (1395 kg ha-1) compared to the farmers practice (85 kg ha-1). With regard to economics, the benefit-cost ratio of Lime 489 kg ha-1+2% urea spray at pod initiation stage + Recommended dose of fertilizer treatment recorded the highest (2.15). Soil pH increased significantly in the treatment receiving lime 489 kg ha-1 compared with the sole application of recommended dose of fertilizer and control.  The available phosphorus (kg ha-1) showed similar trend and highest value was observed as 35.70.  Therefore, lime application with recommended doses of fertilizer could enhance the yield of black gram and available nutrient status of soil.