Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content of Mungbean as Influenced by Foliar Potassium Application and Irrigation Levels

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 2018 to study the response of Summer Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) to foliar potassic fertilization under different moisture regimes. The experiment was laid out in split plot design by having 16 treatment combinations with 2 irrigation levels in the main plot and 6 foliar potassium sprays in subplots, which were replicated thrice. Results revealed that the growth parameters of mungbean viz., plant height, plant spread, number of leaves/plant, LAI, dry matter accumulation/plant, and grain yield were significantly higher under 0.6 IW/CPE ratio as compared to 0.4 IW/CPE ratio. Nutrient content (N, P and K) was also found higher under 0.6 IW/CPE ratio than 0.4 IW/CPE ratio. Among potassium treatments, foliar application of 1%K through KNO3/KCl at flowering and pod development stage produced significantly higher values of growth parameters viz., plant height, number of leaves and branches/plant and dry matter accumulation/plant at all the stages of growth except at 25 DAS. Foliar application of 1%K through KNO3/KCl at flowering and pod development stage recorded significantly higher grain and straw yield than rest of the treatments. Nutrient content was found higher under foliar application of 1%K through KNO3/KCl at flowering and pod development stage but did not differ significantly.