Optimising Growth and Yield in Black Gram: Impact of Plant Spacing and Foliar Nutrient Application

Abstract

Proper spacing improves light interception, reduces competition for soil nutrients and moisture, and supports healthier canopy architecture. Foliar feeding provides rapid nutrient uptake during critical growth stages, enhancing photosynthetic activity, pod formation, and overall yield. Therefore, to realise higher yield potential in Black gram, field experiments were conducted at the Pulse Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, during summer 2022, in a randomised block design with 12 treatment combinations, replicated 4 times, using the black gram variety “GU-3 (Anjani)”. The two factors under investigation comprised of (Factor 1) spacing level: S1– 45 cm × 10 cm, S2 – 60cm × 10 cm and (Factor 2) foliar application of nutrients: N1 -1 % urea, N2 – 2 % urea, N3 -1 % LUP, N4 – 2 % LUP, N5- 1 % novel and N6 – 2 % novel. Plant height at 60 DAS (40.25 cm) and harvest (50.90 cm), seed yield (963 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (2197 kg ha⁻¹), and harvest index (30.41) were maximum with spacing of 45 × 10. In contrast, 60×10 cm spacing recorded more branches per plant⁻¹ (5.45 and 5.16 at 60 DAS and harvest) and higher pods per plant⁻¹ (29.36). Among foliar nutrient treatments, 2% novel spray (N6) reported the highest plant height at 60 DAS (43.35 cm) and harvest (54.35 cm), and maximum branches per plant⁻¹ (5.77 and 5.47), remaining statistically at par with N4 (2 % LUP) and N5 (1 % novel). The highest pods plant⁻¹ (32.02) and seeds pod⁻¹ were also obtained with 2% novel, comparable only to 2 % LUP (N4). The highest seed yield (1019 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (2349 kg ha⁻¹) were achieved with 2 % novel spray, again at par with N4 and N5.