Effect of spacing and nutrient levels on growth, yield and economics of fodder rice bean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.)]

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum to standardize the spacing and nutrient levels of fodder rice bean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.)]. The treatments consisted of three spacing (s1 - 30 cm x 10 cm, s2 - 30 cm x 20 cm and s3 - 30 cm x 30 cm), three levels of nitrogen (n0 - 0 kg N ha-1, n1 - 20 kg N ha-1 and n2 - 30 kg N ha-1) and three levels of phosphorous (p0 - 0 kg P2O5 ha-1, p1 - 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and p2 - 40 kg P2O5 ha-1). Result showed that sowing of rice bean at spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm (s1 ) recorded highest plant height (49.04 cm) at 30 DAS and leaf: stem ratio (0.63) at harvest. The treatment n1 (20 kg N ha-1) resulted in highest plant height and it was on par with n2 (30 kg N ha-1), while leaf to stem ratio was the highest at n2 at harvest. Similarly the highest green (14.57 t ha-1) and dry fodder yield (2.91 t ha-1) were recorded at spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm (s1 ) and at n2 (30 kg N ha-1) resulting in greater net returns (Rs. 35,761 ha-1) and B: C ratio (3.22).