Optimizing Growth and Productivity of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) through Integrated Nutrient Management Strategies

Abstract

Green gram (mung bean) is a short-duration, drought-tolerant pulse crop from the Fabaceae family, widely grown in Southeast Asia for its high nutritional value and suitability in multiple cropping systems. A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2025 at the Agronomy Research Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management practices on growth and yield attributes of green gram. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications comprising ten treatments involving different combinations of Recommended dose fertilizer, vermicompost and PSB. The results revealed that the maximum plant height (56.83 cm), number of branches per plant (6.18) and dry matter accumulation (15.65 g plant⁻¹) were recorded under 100% RDF + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + PSB (T₁₀), which remained statistically at par with T₉, T₇ and T₈ and exhibited increases of 39.5%, 41.7% and 61.7% over the control (T₁), respectively. However, plant population at 20 DAS and at maturity was not significantly influenced by the nutrient management practices. Phenological traits were also improved with maximum days to 50% flowering (36.83 days) and physiological maturity (64.87 days) under T₁₀, showing increases of 16.00% and 13.55% over control. Similarly, yield attributes were highest under 100% RDF + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + PSB (T₁₀), including pods per plant (27.96), pod length (7.83 cm), seeds per pod (9.89), test weight (36.68 g) and seed yield per plant (5.74 g), with increases of 54.48%, 79.18%, 86.96%, 24.51% and 82.80% over control, respectively. Thus, integrated application of 100% RDF + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + PSB (T₁₀) proved most effective for improving growth, productivity and sustainability of green gram under semi-arid conditions.