Agroclimatic Indices, Phenology and Growth Response of Clusterbean to Different Dates of Sowing and Varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was performed to study the effect of different sowing times and varieties on agroclimatic indices, phenology and growth of clusterbean at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana). Experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consists of two factors i.e. sowing time and varieties. Three clusterbean varieties i.e. HG 365 (V1), HG 563 (V2) and HG 2-20 (V3) with each sown at three different dates of sowing i.e first (D1), third (D2) and fourth (D3) week of July. Clusterbean variety HG 563(V2), sown in first week of July (D1) resulted in significantly higher accumulation of agroclimatic indices i.e. growing degree days, photo thermal units, heliothermal units and heat use efficiency because the early sown crop had a fully developed normal reproductive phase and took longer time to attain maturity. Similarly, more number of days were taken for emergence, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% pod formation and days to maturity in variety HG 563, sown in first week of July. Significantly higher leaf area index and dry matter accumulation were observed in HG 563 sown on 1st week of July than rest of the varieties and date of sowings.