INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN LEVEL AND PLANTING DENSITY ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF MUNGBEAN

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University farm, Dhaka to investigate the influence of nitrogen level and planting density on growth and yield of mungbean during the period from March to June, 2015. The trial comprised of three nitrogen levels such as N and N 2 = 40 kg N ha -1 ; and four planting density, P ii 0 = 0 kg N ha 1 -1 , N = 15 plants m 1 -2 = 30 plants m -2 , P 3 = 45 plants m -2 and P 4 = 60 plants m -2 . The experiment was laid out in splitplot design with three replications by assigning nitrogen level in the main plot and

planting

density in the sub plot. Seedling emergence, plant height, number of leaves plant -1 , dry matter production, number of branches plant -1 , nodulation, days required to first flowering, days required to 50% flowering, number of pods plant 1 , number of seeds pod -1 ,1000-seed weight, seed yield, stover yield, biological yield, harvest index and shelling percentage were compared for different treatments. Results revealed that, nitrogen level did not significantly influenced most of the growth and yield parameters except some yield parameters of mungbean. As a single factor effect, the maximum seed yield (1.52 t ha ) was recorded from no nitrogen (N ) application, which was 13.43 % higher than that of 40 kg N ha -1 (N 2 ) (1.34 t ha -1 0 ). In case of planting density, the maximum seed yield (1.58 t ha -1 ) was obtained from 45 plants m -2 (P ) and the minimum seed yield (1.25 t ha -1 ) was obtained from 15 plants m -2 (P 1 3 ). The 45 plants m -2 gave 26.40% higher yield over 15 plants m -2 . However, the highest seed yield (1.68 t ha ) was obtained from 45 plants m -2 with 20 kg N ha -1 which was similar with the same nitrogen level with 30 plants m -2 and 30-60 plants m -2 having zero nitrogen fertilizer application. The lowest seed yield (1.19 t ha -1 = 20 kg N ha , P -1 2 ) was obtained from 15 plants m

having 20 kg N ha -1 application which was statistically similar with 15-30 plants m -2 with 40 kg N ha -1 along with 15 plants m -2 having no nitrogen fertilizer application. The crop sown with 45 plants m -2 in combination with 20 kg N ha

gave 41.18% higher yield over 15 plants m -2 in combination with 20 kg N ha . Application of 20 kg N ha -1 of 45 plants m -2 could be the best production package for cultivation of mungbean.