Response of Clusterbean (Cymopsis tetragonoloba L.) Varieties to Foliar Application of Micronutrients and Liquid Manures

Abstract

Clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) is an important drought-tolerant legume crop widely grown in the arid and semi-arid regions of India. However, its productivity is often constrained by poor soil fertility and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. In the light of above facts, a field experiment was conducted during kharif season 2022 at instructional farm, Department of Agronomy, SKNCOA, Jobner, Rajasthan (26˚05' N latitude, 75˚20' E longitude and at an altitude of 427 m above mean sea level). The experiment consisted of two varieties (RGC-1033 and RGr 12-1), four micronutrients (control, foliar spray of 0.5% zinc sulphate, foliar spray of 0.5% ferrous sulphate and foliar spray of 0.2% borax) and four liquid manures (control, panchagavya spray @ 3%, cow urine spray @ 10% and panchagavya spray + cow urine spray) thereby making thirty two treatment combinations were replicated three times in split plot design keeping sowing varieties and micronutrients in main plots and liquid manures in sub plots.The results revealed that variety RGC-1033 significantly higher grain yield was 14.83% over RGr 12-1. Among micronutrient treatments, significantly higher grain yield by foliar spray of 0.5 zinc sulphate was 7.93 and 22.74% over foliar spray of 0.2% borax and control which was at par with foliar spray of 0.5% ferrous sulphate. In liquid manures, panchagavya spray @ 3% recorded significantly higher grain yield was 5.91 and 19.86% over cow urine @ 10% and control. Similar trend was observed in stover and biological yield. Therefore, it can be concluded that the variety RGC-1033, foliar spray of 0.5% zinc sulphate and panchagavya spray @ 3% noted significantly higher yield and yield attributes compared to other treatments in semi arid regions of Rajasthan.