Response of Summer Blackgram (Vigna mungo) Varieties to Phosphorus Levels under Lateritic Soils of Konkan

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Maharashtra during summer season of 2011. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. The main plot and sub-plot treatment comprised of four varieties and four levels of phosphorus. Results showed that yield attributes viz. plant height, dry matter accumulation/plant, pods/plant, grains/pod and test weight were recorded the highest with variety ‘TAU-1’. Further, among the different varieties of blackgram studied, ‘TAU-1’ has produced maximum and significantly higher grain (1040 kg/ha) and stover (1510 kg/ha) yield over rest of the varieties, while the minimum and maximum harvest index was obtained with variety ‘T-9’ and ‘TAU-1’, respectively. The variety ‘TAU-1’ recorded significantly more total protein yield as compared to rest of the varieties. Similarly nitrogen and phosphorus removal by grain and stover were highest with variety ‘TAU-1’. The application of phosphorus responded favorably up to 50 kg/ha for yield attributes, grain and straw yield, total protein yield and removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. Similarly nitrogen content (44.97 kg/ha) in grain and stover was more in the variety ‘TAU-1’. The variety ‘TAU-1’ with application of 50 kg P₂O₅/ha recorded maximum grain and stover yield with most remunerative combination of treatment having B: C ratio 1.47.