Sri Venkateswara Agricultural College, A.P. Agricultural University Tirupati517502
In a field experiment the dry matter production and nutrient uptake of horsegram cultivars, PHG-62 (early) and Co-1 (late) were assessed during late monsoon season (October to December) of 1988. Only 16 per cent of total seasonal dry matter was produced at the time of flowering. While the rest was produced during post flowering period. The average distribution of dry matter in mature plants was 4.0 per cent in root, 18.4 per cent in leaf, 9.4 per cent in stem and 68.0 per cent in reproductive structures. The daily rate of uptake per hectare during periods of rapid accumulation ranged from 1.4 to 2.2 kg N, 0.15 to 0.17 kg P and 0.8 to 0.85 kg K. The amounts of nutrients accumulated in plants at maturity were 85 kg N, 7.9 kg P and 34.8 kg K per hectare. The amount of dry matter needed to produce 100 kg of seed contained 8 to 13 kg N, 0.6 to 1.0 kg P and 3 to 4 kg K, indicating there by low nutrient requirement of horsegram.
