Evaluation of cowhage (mucuna pruriens L.) genotypes for growth, fresh biomass and dry matter production in arecanut plantation under hill zone of Karnataka

Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens L.) is a leguminous, twining annual climber having wide distribution in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. An experiment was conducted to examine the performance of eight cowhage (Mucuna pruriens L.) genotypes for their growth, fresh biomass and dry matter production in arecanut plantation under hill zone of Karnataka. Significant differences were observed in genotypes with respect to growth, fresh biomass and dry matter production. The genotype Arka Dhanvantari recorded the maximum plant height (282.03 cm), number of trifoliate leaves (71.03) and stem girth (0.91 cm) at harvest. IIHR Selection-2 recorded the maximum number of branches at flowering (6.47). The maximum total fresh biomass at 80 and 120 DAS (121.63 and 348.67g/plant respectively) was recorded in the genotype IIHR Selection-2. The highest total dry matter production at 80 and 120 DAS was also recorded in the genotype IIHR Selection-2 (28.83 and 84.4067g/plant respectively).