Evaluation of the Agronomic Traits and Grain Yield of Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) by Different Levels of Phosphorus Fertilizer with Row Spacings at Abine Germama Kebele in Adamitulu Jido kombolcha Wereda

Abstract

Mung bean is among the most important pulses crop cultivated from low to midland agro-ecological zones of the world including Ethiopia. The study was conducted at Abine Germama Kebele in 2020/21 cropping season (rainy) on Adamitulu Jido Kombolcha Wereda. We used mung bean variety the so called Arkebe for this experiment. The trial was also conducted to determine the optimum row spacing and phosphorus fertilizer rate for better grain yield of mung bean and to assess the economic value of using Phosphorus for Mung bean production. The soil was medium in total nitrogen (0.143%), had low available phosphorus (2.42 mg kg^-1 soil), moderate organic matter (2.252) contents and low cation exchange capacity (6.15 cmol kg^-1 soil). The highest number of seeds per plant (12.37) was counted from the interaction effects of 40kg/ha phosphorus and 15cm row spacing. The highest above ground biomass yield (8064.48 kg ha^-1) and grain yield (2493.83 kg ha^-1) of mung bean was obtained from the interaction effects of 60kg/ha Phosphorus and 10cm intra row spacing. The highest (0.25) value of harvest index of mung bean was calculated from the interaction effect of 60kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 with 40cm x 10cm row spacing. The maximum net benefit (86772.51 ETB ha^-1) was obtained from 40cm x 10cm row spacing and 60kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. The highest marginal rate of return per unit production cost was recorded when mung bean planted on 40cm x 10cm row spacing with 60kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 application (MRR = 942%). we advised to farmers 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 with 40cm x 10cm row spacing was the best for mung bean production, but since 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 was the maximum level Phosphorus among the treatments so, this needs to add the levels of Phosphorus beyond 60kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 for future study.

Keywords: Grain yield, Net benefit, Marginal rate of return, Phosphorus and Row spacing

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-7-04

Publication date: April 30^th 2022