Vol. 11, Special Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
T Gangadhara, PH Patel, Akshay Kumar Kurdekar and Yonika Saini

Abstract:
A field experiment on “Response of horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) to spacing and nipping” was carried out during kharif 2020 at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar in loamy sand. It comprised two spacings (30 cm × 10 cm and 45 cm × 10 cm) and six nippings [no nipping, manual nipping, foliar spray each of cycocel (60 & 80 ppm) and mepiquat chloride (125 & 250 ppm)] at 55 DAS with randomized block design (factorial) replicated thrice. The spacing of 45 cm × 10 cm recorded significantly higher number of branches, leaf area, pod weight/plant reduced number of days to initiation and 50% flowering. Under nipping, spraying of mepiquat chloride @ 250 ppm recorded significantly higher number of branches/plant, leaf area/plant, dry matter/plant, number of pods/plant, pod weight/plant, seed yield (870 kg/ha) and haulm yield (3,119 kg/ha) . Among interactions, spacing of 45 cm × 10 cm coupled with mepiquat chloride spray @ 250 ppm recorded the maximum leaf area, dry matter/plant at harvest, number of pods/plant and seed yield (968 kg/ha) . In terms of seed yield increment, it was found that there was 47.2% increase by mepiquat chloride spray @ 250 ppm as compared to no nipping. In case of economic returns, the highest net returns (₹23,341/ha) and BCR (2.16) were obtained under spacing of 30 cm × 10 cm coupled with mepiquat chloride spray @ 250 ppm which was ultimately found suitable for horsegram.