Effect of plant spacing on yield and rust disease incidence of Yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata Sub sp. Sesquipedalis) in Southren transitional zone of Karnataka

Abstract

The present study was carried out during kharif 2016 and 2017 to determine the effect of plant spacing on pod yield and incidence of rust disease (Uromyces vignae) in Yardlong bean. The treatments includes eight level of spacing (45x30 cm, 45x45 cm, 45x60 cm, 45x75 cm, 60x30 cm, 60x45 cm, 60x60 cm and 60x75 cm) arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Two years pooled data revealed that, the pod yield of Yardlong bean was significantly affected by the interaction of spacing and disease incidence. Significantly higher (15.04 t/ha) and lower pod yields (9.39 t/ha) were recorded with the closer spacing of 45x30 cm and wider spacing of 60x75 cm respectively. Correspondingly, the higher rust incidence (61.64%) was observed in closer spacing (45x30 cm). Whereas, the lower disease incidence of 33.86 per cent was noticed with wider spacing (60x75 cm). Even though higher disease incidence noticed in narrow spacing but the yield was highest due to higher plant population and it shows that pod yield per unit area depended not only on the performance of individual plant and severity of disease but also on the number of plants per unit area.