Vol. 12, Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Swarnkar VK, Sonboir HL and Verma Neetu

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during post rainy season (January to June) of consecutive years 2021 and 2022 at Research Cum Instructional Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh with the objective to find out effect of sowing time and spacing on yield and seed quality of dhaincha in sandy clay loam soil of Chhattisgarh plain. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four main plot (Sowing time) and four sub plots (spacing) with three replications. The main plot comprises of four sowing dates, D₁- 10^th January, D₂- 20^th January, D₃- 30^th January and D₄- 09^th February. And sub plot comprises four spacing treatments of S₁- 30 x 10 cm, S₂- 30 x 20 cm, S₃- 45 x 10 cm and S₄- 45 x 20 cm. The results revealed that sowing of dhaincha at 20^th January (D₂) recorded the maximum value on yield attributing characters (total number of pods plant^-1, number of seeds pod^-1, pod length and test weight), seed yield, straw yield, graded seeds, undersized seeds and germination percent. This sowing date also shows highest value of gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio. As far as spacing treatments in dhaincha crop is concerned, yield attributing characters like total number of pods plant^-1, number of seeds pod^-1, pod length and test weight (1000 seed weight) was found highest, when crop was sown with wider spacing of 45 x 20 cm (S₄). Seed yield, straw yield and seed quality characters like quantity of graded seeds, undersized seeds, germination percent was found maximum when dhaincha was sown at spacing of 30 x 20 cm (S₂). This spacing also shows maximum gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio. As far as interaction effect was concerned, total number of pods plant^-1 was found highest with sowing on 20^th January (D₂) at wider spacing crop of 45 x 20 cm (S₄). While other yield attributes like number of seeds pod^-1, pod length and test weight did not differ significantly due to combine effect of sowing date and spacing. Seed yield, straw yield, graded seeds and germination percent of dhaincha as affected by different sowing date and spacing was found maximum when crop sown on 20^th January (D₂) with 30 x 20 cm (S₂) spacing.