Effect of diverse sowing methods on organic mungbean production in Bundelkhand region of India

A field experiment was conducted at organic research farm, Karguwa Ji, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India during rainy season of 2017 to study the effect of sowing methods using different land configurations on productivity and profitability of organic mungbean. The experiment comprised of seven land configuration treatments viz. T₀-flat bed (conventional), T₁-sowing on Broad beds (SBB), T₂-sowing on narrow beds (SNB), T₃-sowing on ridges (SOR), T₄-sowing on side of ridges (SSR), T₅-sowing on broad beds sesbania in furrows (SBB + F) and T₆-sowing on narrow beds + sesbania in furrows (SNB + F). It was laid-out in loamy soil in randomized block design with three replications. The results indicated that different land configurations influenced yield attributes, yields and economic parameters significantly. Among the land configurations used for sowing of mungbean (3 rows with diverse land configurations, the plots with) broad beds + sesbania in furrows (T₅) had maximum number of pods plant⁻¹ (54.7) and pod yield (26.3 q ha⁻¹). Sowing of mungbean on broad beds + sesbania in furrows and incorporation after 30 days (T₅) also resulted in maximum seed yield (14.3 q ha⁻¹), husk (7.6 q ha⁻¹), stover (37.3 q ha⁻¹) and biological yield (63.5 q ha⁻¹). Higher gross return (INR 1,28,922 ha⁻¹), net monetary return (INR 1, 07, 446 ha⁻¹), B:C ratio (5.0), and overall profitability (INR 1279/ day/ha) were obtained when mungbean was sown on broad beds + Sesbania in furrows (T5).