Effects of plant spacing on growth attributes of greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

Abstract

Greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek), also known as mung bean, is a major pulse crop cultivated throughout India. A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2018-19 on a sandy loam soil in Centurion University Farm (23o39’ N latitude, 87o42’ E longitude), R.Sitapur, Gajapati District, Odisha, to study the effects of plant spacing on the growth parameters of green gram. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with five replications and four treatments. The four treatments were within row plant spacings of 7, 9, 11, and 13 cm, corresponding to population densities of 2,37,500, 1,83,333, 1,50,000, and 1,25,000 plants per hectare, respectively. Seeds of the green gram variety Shakti (NRI G 002) were sown in rows on ridges spaced 60 cm apart. The growth attributes, plant height, branches/plant, leaves/plant, and plant dry matter were measured at 30, 50, and 65 days after sowing (DAS) and LAI, RGR, and CGR were calculated. In general, plant height and branches/plant decreased with decrease of plant spacing from 13 to 7 cm. The number of leaves/plant increased with increased plant spacing from 9 to 11 cm. When the plants were young at 30 DAS, LAI was greater in the wider plant spacing of 13 cm compared to closer spacing. The RGR was very low at 50-65 DAS in all spacing treatments and CGR increased with decreased plant spacing from 13 to 7 cm.