Journal of Environmental Biology

Impact of modified microclimate on the performance of Green gram (Vigna radiata L.) under different planting systems in the Upper Brahmaputra Valley zone of Assam

K. Pathak¹, P. Neog²*, K. Medhi¹, R.L. Deka¹, K. Sarmah¹, K. Kurmi³, S.K. Bal⁴ and A. Sultana¹      

¹Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785 013, India

²Department of Agricultural Meteorology, B.N. College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Biswanath Chariali-784 176, India

³Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785 013, India

⁴ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar-500 059, India

Received: 04 May 2024                   Revised: 16 August 2024                   Accepted: 11 November 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : prasanta.neog@aau.ac.in                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4838-8596

Abstract

Aim: To study the impact of modified crop microclimate on the performance of green gram in a representative district of the Upper Brahmaputra Valley zone of Assam.

Methodology: A field experiment was conducted during the summer of 2021 in the ICR Farm of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to study the impact of modified microclimates on the growth and yield of green gram under different planting systems. The variety SGC-16 was grown in a split-plot design with 3 dates of sowing at an interval of 15 days starting from 20^th February (D₁) till 20th March (D₃) in main plots and three planting systems, i.e., P₁- ridge and furrow, P₂ – raised bed with two rows in bed and P₃–flat bed in sub-plot treatment, with three replications following recommended agronomic practices.

Results: The average soil moisture content in the upper 30 cm soil profile was highest in D₃ (80.4±11.8 mm), followed by D₂ (75.0±7.8 mm) and D₁ (66.4±6.9 mm). Compared to P₃, the decrease in weekly evening soil temperatures under P₁ and P₂ was up to 2.1 and 1.4°C, respectively. Irrespective of sowing dates the mean maximum leaf area index (2.06) and higher pods per plant (16.7) were recorded under P₁. The seed yield under different sowing dates and planting systems ranged from 286.3 to 681.0 kg ha^-1 with an overall mean of 509.8 kg ha^-1. Correlation studies between seed yield, LAI and soil moisture in the upper 30 cm soil profile confirmed the existence of a significant and positive correlation between them.

Interpretation: The yield of the crop planted on 20^th March (D₃) under ridge and furrow planting (P₁) was maximum, facilitated by optimum weather conditions with improved soil hydrothermal regimes at various phenological stages of entire crop growing season.

Key words: Green gram, Microclimate, Moisture stress, Planting system, Seed yield

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