Effect of different sowing dates on yield and yield attributes of rabi blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) varieties in scarce rainfall zone of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of rabi blackgram (Vignamungo L.) under different sowing windows at Agricultural College, Mahanandi of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University during October2017 to January 2018.Four blackgram varieties such asTBG-104, LBG-787, GBG-1 and PU-31 were tested under different sowing windows viz., Ist fort night of October, II nd fort night of October, Ist fort night November and IInd fort night November to find out the best suited blackgram. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with factorial concept (FRBD) having sixteen treatments and three replications. Experimental results revealed that variety and dates of sowing had significant impact on yield attributes of the crop. Among the varieties observed PU-31 performed better with highest plant height, dry weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, test weight, seed yield, haulm yield and harvest index, while LBG 787 had lesser yield and yield attributes while compared to the other varieties, while these parameters were found highest and lowest on sowing Ist fortnight of October and IInd fortnight of November, respectively. Sowing PU-31 on Ist fort night of October and IInd fort night of November gave the highest seed yield (856.42 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (2473.96 kg ha-1) and the lowest seed yield (740.68 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (1929.99 kg ha-1), respectively. Results suggested that sowing all the four varieties on 1st fort night of October is desirable for higher seed yield under irrigated condition.