Effect of spacing, organic and inorganic nutrient sources on growth and yield of greengram (Vigna radiata L.)

Introduction

Greengram (Vigna radiata L.), commonly known as mung bean, is one of the most important pulse crops in India. It belongs to the family Fabaceae and is a short-duration, self-pollinated legume crop. The plant is generally erect or semi-erect, with trifoliate leaves, yellow flowers and slender pods containing small green seeds. It has a well-developed tap root system with lateral roots bearing nodules formed by Rhizobium bacteria. These nodules help in biological nitrogen fixation, improving soil fertility and reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizers. India is the major producer of green gram in the world and grown in almost all the states. In India during 2022-2023, Greengram is grown in about 31.5 lakh/ ha with the total production of 2.64 million tones with a productivity of 783 kg/ha and contributing 11% to the total pulse production. and Uttar Pradesh (0.30 lakh/ ha) are the major producers of green gram in India (GOI, 2023) [4] . Greengram are recognized for their high nutritive value. Greengram contain about 55-65% carbohydrate and are rich in protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Green gram contains about 24% protein and is a good source of thiamine and riboflavin. This crop is used as green manure and erosion resisting cover crop. Greengram has ability to fix the nitrogen from atmosphere with the process of symbiosis of microorganisms to maintain the soil fertility. Average rate of atmospheric nitrogen fixed by Greengram is 34 kg/ha annually (Khan et al., 2020) [8] . Green gram seed yield decreases when it is intercropped with sugarcane, sunflower and cereals but it increases the productivity of land (Awaad and El-Naggar, 2018) [24] . Row spacing affects plant growth and yield due to increased competition with increased plant population. Moreover, the optimum plant population differs with the availability of soil moisture, relative humidity and nutrients. Higher plant population reduced plant growth and yield components but increased yield per unit area. Spacing plays an important role in contributing to the high yield because thick plant population will not get proper light for photosynthesis and high infestation of diseases. On the other hand, very low plant population will also reduce the yield. Spacing by maintaining plant population to an optimum level, play an important role in growth and development by affecting plant density and interns' moisture, nutrients and space availability. Application of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) as an organic source of nutrients improves soil structure, enhances water holding capacity, and increases microbial activity. These improvements create favorable conditions for better root development and nodulation in green gram. Meena et al. (2020) [25] reported that integrated application of FYM along with recommended fertilizers significantly increased plant height, dry matter accumulation, and number of pods per plant in mungbean compared to control. Similarly, Kumar et al. (2017) [7] observed that application of FYM improved nodulation and yield attributes of green gram due to improved soil physical and biological properties. The slow and steady release of nutrients from FYM ensures sustained crop growth throughout the growing period. Urea, an important inorganic nitrogen fertilizer containing 46% nitrogen, provides readily available nitrogen to the crop during early growth stages. Nitrogen plays a vital role in chlorophyll formation, protein synthesis, and vegetative growth. Adequate nitrogen supply increases plant height, leaf area, and dry weight, which ultimately enhances yield. According to Singh et al. (2018) [27] , application of recommended nitrogen through urea significantly improved growth parameters and grain yield of green gram. However, excessive nitrogen application may reduce nodulation as plants depend more on soil nitrogen rather than biological nitrogen fixation.

Material and Methods

During the Kharif season of 2025, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of spacing and organic and inorganic nutrient sources on the growth and yield of green gram (Vigna radiata L.). in alluvial soil at the Crop Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj, U.P. The sandy loam soil used in the experimental plot had a pH of 7.8, a nearly neutral soil response, an electrical conductivity of 0.56 (ds/m), limited amounts of accessible phosphorous (32.2 kg/ha), and medium amounts of available potassium (182.0 kg/ha) and nitrogen (240.7 kg/ha). Greengram seeds PDM-139 (Samrat) were planted on July 24, 2025, 30 x 10 cm. Ten treatment combinations and three replications were used in the Randomized Block Design trial. The treatments consisted of three levels of spacing (25 cm × 20 cm, 30 cm × 15 cm, and 30 cm × 10 cm) along with different organic and inorganic nutrient sources, namely 100% N through urea, 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM, and 100% N through FYM. Using a manual hoe, 4-5 cm deep furrows were formed along the seed rows in order to apply fertilizers as band placement. In accordance with the suggested dosage of 20-40-20 kg NPK/ha, urea, single super phosphate (SSP), and Murate of Potash (MOP) were used as the fertilizer sources. The seeds were sown in 24th July 2025 at a depth of 2-3 cm. The spacing of crop between row to row and plant to plant was 25cm × 20cm, 30cm × 15cm and 30cm × 10cm. After ten days of sowing, the gaps were closed by transplanting following germination. Seed were thinned out wherever required to maintain spacing. At 15 and 30 days following sowing, Khurpi was used to assist in manual weeding in order to reduce crop weed competition. At regular intervals from germination to harvest, plant growth parameters such as plant height (cm), dry weight (g/plant), number of nodules/plant were measured. At harvest, yield metrics such as pods/plant, seeds/pod, test weight (g), seed yield (t/ha), stover yield (t/ha), and harvest index (%) were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to statistically examine the observed data in accordance with randomized block design (Gomez and Gomez, 1984).

The data of growth parameter are presented in Table 1. At harvest, significantly and higher plant height (54.82cm) was recorded significantly in the treatment -8 (30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM) However, treatment 6(30cm x 15cm + 100% N through FYM) was found to be statistically at par with treatment -8 with application of30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM. The maximum plant height was observed with nitrogen management which was similar to Kumar et al. (2018) [9] reported that spacing of 30cm × 10cm produced significantly taller plants compared to wider spacings due to better light interception and efficient utilization of available resources. Similarly, Singh and Yadav (2017) [26] observed that closer row spacing enhanced plant height because of mild inter-plant competition which promoted vertical growth. Patel et al. (2019) [12] also reported that Greengram planted at 30cm × 10cm spacing recorded higher plant height compared to 25cm × 20cm and wider spacings, owing to better plant population per unit area and improved canopy structure.

Number of Nodules/plant

According to data at 60 DAS, maximum nodules/plant (28.53) was recorded significantly in the treatment 8(30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM). However, treatment 5(30cm x 15cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM) was found to be statistically at par with treatment 8. Sharma et al. (2016) [28] observed that integrated application of 50% nitrogen through urea + 50% nitrogen through FYM significantly improved nodulation in green gram versus sole application of either inorganic or organic source. The authors attributed this to improved soil organic matter, which enhances microbial activity including nitrogen-fixing rhizobia

Based on the data of Greengram at 60 DAS, maximum dry weight/plant (13.29g) was recorded significantly in the treatment 8(30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM). However, treatment 9(30cm x 10cm + 100% N through urea + 100% N through FYM) was found to be statistically at par with treatment -8. An appropriate FYM supply indirectly helps in providing nitrogen supply and its availability helped the plants to attain more vigour in term of plant height and improve the soil conditions. (Yadav et al., 2017) [29] . Ganeshamurthy and Reddy (2000) [30] reported that integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers significantly increased dry matter production due to continuous nutrient availability and improved soil physical properties.

Yield attributes Numbers of Pods per plant

Table . 2 displays the information related to yield-attributing characters. The application of Spacing, Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Sources on yield of Greengram. At harvest, the data recorded maximum pods/plant (25.93) in treatment -8 (30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM). However, treatment 5(30cm x 15cm+ 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYIM) was Statistically at par with treatment 8. Optimum spacing promotes healthier root systems with less competition for soil nutrients, allowing plants to channel more assimilates to reproductive organs. According to Singh and Yadav (2017) [26] , closer yet optimum spacing improved the number of pods per plant due to efficient resource use by individual plants.

Numbers of seed per pod

At harvest, the data recorded maximum seeds/pod (12.4) in treatment 8(30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM). However, treatment 5(30cm x 15cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM) was statistically at par with treatment -8. Verma et al. (2018) [31] reported that integrated nutrient management improved nutrient uptake and photosynthate accumulation, leading to better seed setting and increased seeds per pod in legumes.

At harvest, the data recorded higher test weight (35.93g) in treatment 8(30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM). However, treatment 5(30cm x 15cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM) was statistically at par with treatment 8. Higher test weight of green gram was recorded with spacing 30cm x 10cm. This might due to better growth of crop, efficient dry matter partitioning and better translocation to the sink, leading to the formation of large sized grains. Similar findings were reported by Rao et al. (2013) [14] .

At harvest, the data recorded higher seed yield (1.57t/ha) in treatment 8(30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM). However, treatment 2(25cm x 20cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM) and treatment 5(30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM) was statistically at par with treatment 8. The probable reason for these results attributed to seeds injected with inorganic nutrients are well-nourished and able to transport necessary nutrients and metabolites to the growing seedling. FYM is a major plant nutrient that influences cell division, germination of seeds, flowering, fruiting, synthesis of fat and starch. Besides, the nutrient take part in various biochemical activities is involved in the regulation of metabolic pathways inclusive of enzyme reactions (Singh et al., 2019) [22] .

Stover Yield (t/ha) At harvest, the data recorded higher stover yield (2.78t/ha) in treatment 8(30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM). However, treatment 5(30cm x 15cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM) was statistically at par with treatment 8. Combined treatments with FYM, vermicompost and chemical fertilizers have been shown to increase yield attributes including stover yield in recent experiments (Ayekpam et al., 2026) [32] .

At harvest, the data recorded maximum harvest index (38.1%) in treatment 1(25cm x 20cm + 100% N through urea + 100% N through FYM). However, treatment 8(30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM) was statistically at par with treatment 1. According to Balai et al. (2017) [33] , application of 100% recommended dose of nitrogen increased harvest index compared to lower doses because of improved reproductive growth and seed development. FYM improved seed germination and a bigger root system for nutrient uptake. One important nutrient for plants is phosphorus, which affects cell division, seed germination, flowering, fruiting, and the synthesis of fat and carbohydrates. Additionally, the nutrient participates in a number of metabolic processes that are involved in the control biochemical activities is involved in the regulation of metabolic pathways inclusive of enzyme reactions (Sharma et al., 2021) [21] .

Economics

The data on the economics of different treatments presented in Table 3 showed that the Maximum Gross return (INR 1,51,554.6/ha), net return (INR 1,10,816.3/ha) and B:C ratio (2.72) was also recorded in the same treatment -8 (30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM). These results might be attributable to an increase in grain and stover yields in the same treatment as a result of greater availability of nutrients by the organic and inorganic source.

Conclusion

Application of treatment 8(30cm x 10cm + 50% N through urea + 50% N through FYM) recorded higher grain yield and benefit cost ratio in Greengram.

Acknowledgement

I am grateful to my advisor as well as all of the faculty members of Department of Agronomy for their unwavering support and advice throughout the entire experimental research study.

Competing Interests

Authors have declared that no competing interests exits.

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