Impact of Foliar Fertilizer Spraying on Productivity and Economics of Greengram (Vigna radiata L.) Grown in Rice Fallow Condition
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The field experiment was conducted at the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, during the rice fallow season of 2022-23 and 2023-24 to evaluate the impact of foliar fertilizer application on the growth, yield and economic performance of rice fallow greengram. The spray treatment viz., Water spray-control, 2% Urea, 2% DAP, 2% NPK 18:18:18, 0.5% ZnSO₄, 2% Urea + 0.5% ZnSO₄, 2% DAP + 0.5% ZnSO₄ and 2% NPK 18:18:18 + 0.5% ZnSO₄. The study was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The greengram variety ADT 3 was used for this study. The treatments were imposed as per treatment schedule. Among the treatments, foliar application of DAP 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ at the pre-flowering and pod initiation stage resulted in superior growth and yield parameters, including plant height (72.5 cm), the number of pods plant-1 (56.2), the number of seeds pod-1 (13.5), test weight (4.1 g) and higher seed yield of 1175 kg ha-1, which was comparable with the NPK 18:18:18 @ 2% + 0.5% treatment. Consequently, foliar application of DAP 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ achieved the highest economic returns, with a gross income of Rs.82,250 ha-1, a net income of Rs.53,284 ha-1 and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.84.
Authors: P. Rajarathinam, K. Subrahmaniyan, S. Mathiyazhagan, R. Manimaran, S. Elamathi, R. Nageswari, R. Arulananth, G. Sivakumar
Institution: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4405585620