The study investigated and compared the growth and yield performance of different green gram varieties specifically cultivated during the summer season in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh

Introduction

The pulses (A Pulse, Latin "puls" from Ancient Greek Poltos "porridge") are annual leguminous crops that play a pivotal role and occupy a unique position in Indian agriculture under their inherent capacity to grow on marginal land and provide protein-rich diet to people experiencing poverty and the vegetarians of the country. In addition to being a rich source of protein, pulses are part and parcel of sustainable agriculture since they are responsible for improving soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties and act as mini nitrogen factories. Therefore, they have been rightly described as 'Unique Jewels of Indian crop husbandry. Pulses are integral to the cropping system as they fit well in different crop rotations. The Bundelkhand region of India is primarily agrarian and vulnerable to natural calamities with low levels of industrialization and urbanization. Poor crop productivity, declining and irregular rainfall patterns, and poor income levels make livelihood uncertain in the region. Pulse crops assume a special significance to the farm economy in the Bundelkhand region, as do the daily diets of local inhabitants. Chickpeas, lentils, field peas, urban, mungbean, and pigeon peas are the major pulse crops cultivated in the region. Data from the Department of Economics and Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, New Delhi, and the studies on pulses development in the Bundelkhand region of India were analyzed. Pulses account for 32% of total agricultural produce and occupy about 33.6% of the gross cropped area in the region. However, a decline in area coverage of pulses has been observed in the region, in contrast to an overall increase in the gross cropped area. The paper discusses the various challenges confronting pulse cultivation in the region and the possible intervention points for enhancing pulse production. The Calorific value of green gram is 334 calories per 100 g, and its chemical composition is as follows: crude protein 24.0%, fat 1.3%, carbohydrate 56.6%, minerals 3.5%, lysine 0.43%, methionine 0.10%, tryptophan 0.04%, calcium 124 mg, phosphorus 3.26 mg, and iron 7.3 mg. Protein hunger is a major problem in the country, where the majority of the population adopts cereals and millet-based dietary habits. Quick maturity, versatile to different agroclimatic and soil situations, providing crop cover for soil conservation, the broad spectrum of over a dozen food legumes belonging to many genera and species of green gram, black gram, cowpea, pigeon pea, chickpea, and lentil form the linchpin of cropping systems in India. This study aims to find suitable summer varieties in light of morphological performances and compare the yield contributing characters of different green gram varieties.

Materials and Methods

The experiment took place at the Agriculture Research Farm of Brahmanand Mahavidyalaya Rath (Hamirpur) U.P, situated in the southern part of the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. The field was well-leveled and equipped with adequate irrigation and drainage facilities. Prior to the experiment, manual practices were employed to clear the field of remnants from previous crops and weeds. The Bundelkhand region experiences a sub-tropical climate characterized by hot, sunny summers and dry, cold winters. It is located in the southern part of Uttar Pradesh, with a latitude and longitudinal range of 79.7° East and 25.5° North and an elevation of 526 feet from sea level. The average annual rainfall in the region ranges between 875-975 mm. The experimental layout followed a Randomized Block Design (Randomized Block Design (RBD)) and included seven varieties: check variety, Mona, Soorya, IPM410-3, IPM2-3, Varsha, and Heera. These varieties were sourced from the Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Each treatment was replicated three times, dividing the experimental field into 21 plots. The recorded data on different characteristics during the investigation were subjected to statistical analysis using the variance analysis technique for randomized block design, following Fisher's (1958) suggestions. If the calculated F values were found to be significant at a 5% significance level, critical differences were then computed to compare the effects of the two treatment levels.

Results and Discussion

The data showcased in Table 1 effectively emphasizes the considerable influence that various treatments had on the mean plant height of Green Gram. It is noteworthy that across the growth period, there was a consistent and discernible upward trend in plant height up until the point of harvest. An intriguing pattern emerged from the data, revealing that plant height exhibited a gradual progression in the initial phase, spanning approximately 30 days, before transitioning into a notably accelerated growth phase between the 30 to 60-day intervals. Subsequently, there was a decline in plant height post the 60-day period. By the time of harvest, the average maximum plant height per plant reached a commendable 44.92 cm. Notably, distinct variations in plant height were evident among the different varieties at all growth stages, with the Varsha variety notably standing out due to its superior plant height compared to the other varieties. This particular observation is in line with the results documented by Yadahalli et al. (2006) [12] and Nayak et al. (2014) [9] , thereby further reinforcing the importance and validity of varietal disparities in plant height. [9] and Rathore et al. (2010) [11] , reinforcing the validity and consistency of the results obtained. Based on the comprehensive table analysis, it is evident that various yield attributes were meticulously observed and documented. For instance, the measurement of pod length, pod per plant ratio, grain per pod, and test weight provided valuable insights into the performance of different varieties. Notably, a distinct trend was observed where V1 exhibited the lowest test weight, while V4 and V6 displayed exceptional results in all yield attributes, particularly excelling in pod length, pods per plant, grain per pod, and test weight. Moreover, the data indicated that V6, in particular, attained the highest test weight during the evaluation process, closely followed by V4. Interestingly, these results suggest that V4 and V6 stand out as potential choices for farmers aiming to optimize their crop yield. Therefore, it is crucial for farmers to carefully consider these yield attributes when deciding on the most suitable variety to cultivate, ultimately leading to the achievement of maximum yield potential during the crucial harvest period. biomass production. The data also showcased that V6 exhibited the highest biological yield among all the plots examined, thereby reinforcing its distinguished status as the most fruitful plot in our agricultural study. These insightful results underscore the paramount importance of carefully selecting optimal conditions and implementing effective management practices to enhance grain and biomass yields within agricultural plots. This emphasis on meticulous planning and strategic decision-making emerges as a critical factor in ensuring and maximizing agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Conclusion

The study compared various plant varieties and found that The variety Varsha consistently outperformed them in various parameters. Varsha had the tallest plant height, the highest capacity for accumulating dry matter, the highest number of branches, and a significant lead in nodule-related metrics. It also excelled in Leaf Area Index (LAI) with a higher value than the other varieties. Varsha also showed superiority in pods per plant, grains per pod, and test weight compared to other varieties. Its yield outcomes were higher across multiple parameters, including grains yield, straw yield, and biological yield. However, there was no significant variance observed among the; different varieties in relation to the harvest index, indicating consistent performance across the varieties.

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