Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Ankur Singh, Mohan Lal, Shivashankar K, Kunwar Satyendra Singh and Richa Tiwari

Abstract:
The experiment entitled “Effect of natural farming practices on growth and yield of black gram under pigeonpea + black gram cropping system” was conducted during the summer season of 2018 at the Crop Research Centre, Chirauri of Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.). The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction. The soil was medium in organic carbon, available phosphorus and available potassium but low in available nitrogen. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 16 treatments comprising either sole or a combination of natural farming components (Beejamruth, jeevamruth, mulching with diancha and green manuring) replicated thrice. The results revealed that natural farming practices have a positive influence on growth and yield attributes of black gram. Application of jeevamruth and beejamurth positively influenced all the growth and yield parameters of black gram. Application of Beejamrutha + Jeevamrutha + Mulching + Green manure treatment recorded significantly higher growth attributes viz., plant height (68.89 cm), leaf area index (1.94 at 50 DAS), number of branches (10.48) and dry matter accumulation (12.54 g/plant at harvest), yield attributes namely number of pods/plant (38.42), number of grains/pod (7.48), 1000-grain weight (5.94) and grain yield/plant (46.78) and grain yield (10.62 q/ha) and straw yield (19.16 q/ha) as compared to control.