Effect of Sowing Windows and Nutrient Levels on Growth Parameters of Sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea)
A. Pon Arasan *
Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
S. Sanbagavalli
Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
N. Sakthivel
Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar, India.
R. Vigneshwari
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
S. Panneerselvam
Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
S. P. Sangeetha
Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Sunnhemp is the important multifaceted legume crop which is used as fodder, fibre and green manure. While incorporation into the soil, it supplies Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium at the level of 50-75 kgha-1, 15-20 kgha-1 and 40-65 kgha-1 respectively. In sunnhemp, the seed production was highly affected by improper agronomic management practices and less availability of quality seeds. Hence the present study was carried out to find the suitable agronomic practice for sunnhemp. A field experiment was conducted to study the suitable sowing windows and nutrient levels on growth parameters of sunnhemp during split-plot design with 12 treatments and replicated thrice. Three sowing dates were studied under main plots and four different nutrient levels under sub plot. Growth attributes such as plant height, leaf area index and dry matter production were recorded. From the above study, it is concluded that delayed sowing on February 2nd week and the application of nutrients at 30:60:30 NPK kg ha-1 recorded higher plant height and dry matter production at harvest over other treatments.
Keywords: Sunnhemp, sowing windows, nutrient levels, growth parameters