Effect of varieties, plant density and molybdenum on yield and economics of blackgram under rainfed condition of Chhattisgarh

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of varieties, plant density and molybdenum on production and profitability during the kharif season of 2011 at Instructional-cum-Research Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh). The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The treatments comprised of three varieties viz., V1=Indra urd-1, V2=RU-03-16 and V3=RU-03-52; two plant density viz., P1= 30 x 10 cm and P2= 45 x 10 cm and three treatments of molybdenum viz., S1= control, S2= 4 g/kg seed and S3= 4 g/kg seed along with two spray of 2 urea @ 2%. Results revealed that significantly higher LAI (3.37), dry matter (10.21), nodules/plant (34.72), number of pods/plant (19.05), seeds/pod (7.73), 100- seed weight (4.07 g), grain yield (7.81 q/ha), straw yield (19.55 q/ha), net returns (Rs. 17943/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.24) were recorded in Indira Urd-1 cultivar. Similarly, maximum LAI (3.38), seeds/pod (7.35), 100-seed weight (4.02 g), grain yield (7.78 q/ha), straw yield (18.755 q/ha), net returns (Rs. 17,748/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.22) were noted under plant density of 30 x 10 cm. Whereas the maximum dry matter (10.44 g/plant), nodules/plant (36.03), number of pods/plant (19.17) were recorded with the plant density of 45 x 10 cm. Application of Mo @ 4 g/kg seed along with 2% spray of urea twice produced highest LAI (3.45), dry matter (11.54 g/plant), nodules/plant (36.16), number of pods/plant (20.24), seeds/pod (7.35), 100- seed weight (4.23 g), grain yield (8.10 q/ha), straw yield (18.88 q/ha), net returns (Rs. 18,570/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.25) which was significantly superior to seed treatment with Mo @ 4 g/kg and control (untreated). Hence, to obtain higher production, productivity and profitability of blackgram should be used cultivar of Indira Urd-1 with the plant density 30 x 10 cm and seed treated with Mo and two spray of urea.