Growth and yield behaviour of urdbean (Vigna mungo L.) as influenced by sowing methods and nutrient management practices in north-western plains zone

Field experiments were conducted during kharif seasons of 2016 and 2017, respectively to find out suitable sowing methods and nutrient management practices for urdbean at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh). The treatments consisted of 4 sowing methods [viz., normal sowing, ridge sowing, broad bed sowing (30 cm × 10 cm) and broad bed sowing (30 cm × 5 cm)] and 5 nutrient management practices [viz., control, farmer practice (100 kg DAP ha^-1), 20:50:20:30- NPKS + 2% urea spray at flowering stage, 20:50:20:30- NPKS + Rhizobium + PSB + 2% urea spray at flowering stage and 20:50:20:30- NPKS + 5 t ha^-1FYM + Rhizobium + PSB + 2% urea spray at flowering stage]. The sowing method, broad bed sowing (30 × 10 cm) recorded significantly higher branches plant^-1, pods plant^-1, seeds pod^-1, test weight, seed yield, net return and B:C ratio. Among the application of 20:50:20:30- NPKS + 5 t ha^-1 FYM + Rhizobium + PSB + 2% urea spray at flowering stage recorded significantly more dry weight, higher number of branches plant^-1, pods plant^-1, higher seed yield, net return and benefit: cost ratio over the control. Farmer practice (100 kg DAP ha^{- 1}), 20:50:20:30- NPKS + 2% urea spray at flowering stage was significantly at par with the treatment 20:50:20:30- NPKS + Rhizobium + PSB + 2% urea spray at flowering stage. The application of 20:50:20:30- NPKS + 5 t ha ¹ FYM + Rhizobium + PSB + 2% urea spray at flowering stage was significantly recorded higher available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur contents in the soil over rest of the treatments.