Performance of summer mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] under different irrigation regimes and boron levels

Effect of irrigation and boron on growth and yield of mungbean variety ‘Samrat’ was studied during summer seasons of 2009 and 2010 at Jaguli Instructional Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal on sandy loam alluvial soil. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with four levels of irrigation in main plot and four levels of boron in sub-plot. Experimental results revealed that both irrigation and boron treatments influenced crop growth characters, yield attributes and seed yield of mungbean. Significant interaction effects were observed among the treatments. Maximum seed yield of 879 kg/ha was obtained with three irrigations at branching, pre-flowering and pod filling stages and was almost 38% higher over the rainfed treatment. Among the various levels of boron, foliar spray of 0.2% borax at flowering stage consistently influenced all the growth and yield parameters. A treatment combination involving three irrigations at branching, pre-flowering and pod filling stages along with a foliar spray of 0.2% borax at flowering stage recorded maximum mungbean seed yield (898 kg/ha) which was comparatively higher over other treatment combinations.