Effect of Plant Densities and Phosphorus Levels on the Growth

frame of determine densities and atomic shape 15 levels on the step-up and support of veggie cowpea typeset (Vigna unguiculata L. ) var. Arka Garima K. RAVI KUMAR1 AND V. SUDHA VANI2 Department of Horticulture, College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem-534 101, Andhra Pradesh, India. E-mail email&160protected com ABSTRACT A airfield experiment was conducted at College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem to study the effect of full treatment assiduity and the Tempter levels on the product and give of vegetable cowpea variety Arka Garima down the stairs irrigated conditions.The study revealed that the trim down responded to embed densities as well as morning star levels. The biometric characters like descend of master(a) branches per install (8. 52), fuel fuel fuel pod length (21. 31 cm), pod girth (12. 35 mm), look of pods per comprise (37. 02), number of seeds per pod (16. 85), pod fish per show (10. 93 g) and pod yield per plant (301. 85 g) were hi gher(prenominal) at lower assiduousness plants (37,037 plants/ha) along with 60 kg P2O5/ha. The egression and yield characters like plant altitude (52. 47 cm), TDM hookup (3968. 04 kg/ha), age to flowering (34. 73 old age), days to offset printing picking (44. 8 days) and pod yield (152. 87 q//ha) were showed unwrap human face in case of high density lay (74,074 plants/ha) along with 60 kg P2O5/ha. The inter exercise effect of plant densities and phosphorus levels were significant on plant top, nervemarise ironic matter accumulation and days to flowering, pod length, pod weight per plant, and yield per plant and pod yield /ha. underlying words Growth, yield, plant density, phosphorus level, vegetable cowpea Cowpea plays a substantial role by serving as a iota and vegetable crop mainly for the rural people in the East, West, southward and Central parts of Africa (Mortimore et al. 1997). According to FAO (2007), cowpea is produced annually on 11. 2 mha ranking 3rd after common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ) and garbanzo (Cicer arietinum L. ) with Africa pickings the lead followed by Asia. It is extensively grown in South India oddly in the states of Karnataka and Tamilnadu. Cowpea used at all stages of its growth including as a vegetable (Ofori and Stern, 1986). Vegetable cowpea variety Arka Garima is a ungroomed type. Pods atomic number 18 thick, light green, long, round, stringless and highly fleshy. Yield potential of Arka Garima is 18 t/ha.The optimum plant population is an important parameter for increasing the crop productivity and provides the plant with the best environment to express its capacity fully under the given conditions. The optimum plant density with proper geometry and its planting varied with the agro-climatic conditions and growth habit of the plant. Generally, pulses require phosphorus for their growth and north fixation. It also enhances the nodulation and pod development consequently pod yield. If the inorganic phosp hate availability from the soil is limited, the growth and nitrogen fixation are affected (Prasad and Sanoria, 1981). the Tempter world an essential constituent of cellular proteins and nucleic acids, it encourages the meristematic activity in plants (Black, 1969) and adequate fork up of nutrients which might have enhanced the metabolic activity and inturn plant growth. hearty AND METHODS A field experiment was conducted at College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem during kharif 2010. The experimental come out had wild sandy loam with pH 6. 9, EC of 0. 01 dS/m, 0. 34 % organic speed of light with 712, 32. 5, 217. 5 kg of N, P2O5 and K2O per ha, respectively. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications.There were twelve treatmental combinations comprised of three plant densities (37,037, 55,555 and 74,074 plants/ha) designated as D1, D2 and D3 and four levels of phosphorus (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P2O5/ha) designated as P0, P1, P2 an d P3. The seeds were treated with captan 3g/kg seeds before sowing against wilt. The Arka Garima seeds were dibbled on 29-8-2010 at 60 x 45, 60 x 30 and 45 x 30 cm spacings. During the crop period, the thoroughgoing pelting received was 419. 07 mm. The nitrogen 20 kg/ha, potassium 10 kg/ha and phosphorus as per the treatments were apply during the crop period.The metereological data recorded from planting date to harvest are presented below. set back 1 Monthly mean temperatures, relative humidity and rainfall during the growing season of cowpea (Sep-Nov) in 2010 at Venkataramannagudem, Andhra Pradesh. Month mean temperature (? C) Mean Relative Rain fall (mm) humidity (%) _____________________________________________________________________ September 28. 99 77. 96 19. 3 October 28. 84 71. 86 46. 00 November 27. 33 75. 14 38. 60 _____________________________________________________________________ A sample of five plants was taken randomly from two important rows in each experi mental plot at different intervals. The growth parameters like plant whirligig, number of primary branches, dry matter accumulation, days to flowering and days to first picking were recorded. Similarly the yield and its attributes were recorded.For estimating total dry matter accumulation, each sample was first air dry out and later oven dried at 60? C to constant weight. The sum of dry weights of all plant parts was taken as total dry matter accumulation per plant (g). The data was analyzed by the method of variance outlined by Panse and Sukhatme (1985). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results revealed that the effect of plant densities and phosphorus levels on vegetative growth performance and yield were significant. The plant height increased with increasing plant density and decreased number of primary branches per plant at all sampling occasions.Higher density produced wish and widely spread plants. Significant increase in plant height with high density (74,074 plants/ha) might b e payable to competition of solar energy coupled with shallow root body. Increased plant density limits the availability of space for plant and hence root configuration alter the crop growth. Increased plant population increased plant height (Ahmed et al. 2010). The TDM accumulation was higher at a plant density of 74,074 plant/ha. The result might be attributed to optimum use of natural resources, higher uptake of nutrients and more number of plants per unit area.Beneficial effect of optimum density on total dry matter accumulation has also been inform by Dwivedi et al. (1994) in frenchbean. Though the number of primary branches per plant, pod length, pod girth, number of pods per plant were higher at lower density (37,037 plants/ha), it retard the maturity. Higher photosyndissertation and higher amount of dry matter assimilation cod to higher number of leaves and higher availability of nutrients led to vegetative growth at a longer period and as such the procreative manaki n was delayed (Honma and Bert, 1977).The higher pod yield per plant at low plant density (37,037 plants/ha) could be attributed to the significant increase in pod length, pod girth, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and pod weight per plant. These values were significantly lower at higher density (74,074 plants/ha) due to increased competition among the plants for the space, light and nutrients. Increasing population decreased the number of pods per plant. This reduction may be attributed to the interference among branches. The determinations are in deed over with the previous results reported by Hamad (2004).The variations in number of pods per plant could be attributed to the variations in number of branches per plant. Hence lower plant densities resulted in upper limit number of branches per plant and in turn was responsible for more number of fruiting points. Further, less competition for light, moisture and nutrients associated with wider spacing has an edge i n producing more reproductive parts compared to high density plants. The plant growth, yield and its attributes were superior with the application of 60 kg P2O5/ha.Increase in plant growth might be due to hastened meristematic activity, better root growth and better absorption of nutrients by increased application of P (Philip, 1993). The translocation of photosynthates by the action of P also showed an improvement in various growth parameters (Verma and Saxena, 1995). The infection of Rhizobium bacterium depends on their interception with the root hair. Under adequate phosphate application, nodulation increases due to high bacterial infection on account of mightily developed rooting system and increased density of nodule bacteria (Srivastava and Varma, 1985).Increased nodulation implies greater symbiotic fixation of atmospheric N which also helps in cell division and root extension which might have resulted in vigorous plant growth. Similar results were reported by Joseph and Va rma (1994) in chickpea. The phosphorus application 60 kg/ha showed a significant charm on days to flowering, days to 50 per cent flowering and days to first picking. Influence of P in hastening maturity is well documented. Phosphorus imparts quicker vegetative growth to the plant and entering into the reproductive phase early.The same trend of higher levels of P was also noted by Philip (1993) in cowpea and Bahadur and Singh (1990) in garden pea. The increase in yield attributes might be a direct consequence of growth characters. enough supply of P is important in laying down the primordia for the reproductive parts of plants. It is also considered important in the formation of pods and seeds. Being a constituent of protoplasm, which may be responsible for increased length of pods, pod weight, number of seeds per pod and inturn pod yield. These results are in conformity with the finding of Sundara et al. 2004) in pea. The interaction effect of application of 60 kg P2O5/ha and hig her plant densities (74,074 plants/ha) produced higher pod yield along with deep protein content. The economic returns were more in case of high density as per the results obtained in the present experiment. It is also suggested that a plant density level D3 (74,074 plants/ha) and a phosphorus level of P3 (60 kg P2O5) was most profitable for the finish of vegetable cowpea cv. Arka Garima under irrigated conditions in coastal region of Andhra Pradesh. REFERENCESAhmed Naim, M. E. and Abdelrhim Jabereldar, A. 2010. Effect of plant density and cultivar on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 4 3148-53. Bahudur, V. and Singh, T. 1990. Yield and growth rejoinder of garden pea (Pisum sativum L. ) to nitrogen and phosphorus application. Vegetable Science, 17 205-09. Black, C. A. 1969. smirch plant relationships (2nd Ed. ) John Wiley and Sons Inc. New York, pp. 792. Dwivedi, D. K. , Singh, H. , Shahi, K. M. B. and Rai, J. N. 1994.Response of frenchbean (Phaseolus vulgaris) to population densities and nitrogen levels under mid-upland bureau in north-east alluvial plains of Bihar. Indian J. Agron. , 39 581-83. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). 2007. FAOSTAT http//faostat. fao. org/site/567/default. aspxancor. Hamad, M. S. 2004. Effect of planting density on the performance of three cultivars of cowpea. M. Sc. thesis submitted to University of Khartoum, Sudan. Honma, S. and Bert, J. 1977. Growing high density cauliflower. American Vegetable Grower, 25 40. Joseph, B. and Varma. 1994.Response of rainfed chickpea (Cicer arietinum) to jalshakti incorporation and phosphorus and sulphur fecundation. Indian J. Agron. , 39 312-14. Mortimore, M. J. , Singh, B. B. , Harris, F. and Blade, S. F. 1997. Cowpea in traditional cropping systems. Advances in Cowpea Research, 8 99-113. Ofofi, F. and Stern, W. R. 1986. Maize/cowpea intercrops system Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on productivity and efficien cy. Field stray Research, 14 247-61. Panse, V. G. and Sukhatame, P. V. 1985. Statistical methods for agricultural workers. ICAR, New Delhi. Philip, A. 1993.Phosphorus and molybdenum nutrition in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. ). M. Sc. (Ag. ) Thesis submitted to the Kerala Agricultural University. Srivastava, S. N. L. and Varma, S. C. 1985. Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and molybdenum fertilization on growth, nodulation and residual fertility in field pea. Indian J. Agric Res. , 19 131-37. Sundara, T. H. , Vyakaranahal, B. S. , Shekhargoud, M. , Shishidhara, S. D. and Hosamani, R. M. 2004. Influence of phosphorus and micronutrients on seed yield and quality of pea (Pisum sativum L. ). Seed Research, 32 214-16. Verma, V. S. and Saxena, K.K. 1995. Response of Frenchbean (Phaseolus vulgaris) to graded doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in silty loam soil of central Uttar Pradesh. Indian J. Agron. , 40 67-71. Table 2 Effect of plant densities and phosphorus levels on plant he ight, number of primary branches per plant and days to flowering of vegetable cowpea cv. Arka Garima. set out height (cm) (At 60 DAS)No. of primary branches (At 45 DAS)Days to flowering (Days) base densitiesPhosphorus levels P0P1P2P3MeanP0P1P2P3MeanP0P1P2P3Mean D145. 6045. 93046. 6748. 8046. 758. 078. 538. 608. 878. 5236. 6736. 0036. 336. 4736. 57 D245. 4047. 4050. 0748. 4047. 828. 008. 338. 138. 338. 2035. 4735. 4035. 3335. 2735. 37 D349. 2052. 6752. 2055. 8052. 477. 477. 808. 078. 077. 8535. 0034. 8034. 6334. 4734. 73 Mean46. 7348. 6749. 6451. 007. 848. 228. 278. 4235. 7135. 4035. 5035. 40 SourceSEm CD (P=0. 05)SEm CD (P=0. 05)SEm CD (P=0. 05) whole caboodle density (D)0. 120. 340. 110. 310. 060. 18 Phosphorus level (P)0. 130. 390. 120. 360. 070. 20 D x P0. 230. 680. 21N. S0. 12NS Table 3 Effect of plant densities and phosphorus levels on total dry matter accumulation of vegetable cowpea cv. Arka Garima.Total dry matter accumulation (30 DAS)Total dry matter accumulation (60 DA S)Total dry matter accumulation (90 DAS) Plant densitiesPhosphorus levels P0P1P2P3MeanP0P1P2P3MeanP0P1P2P3Mean D1163. 50169. 03174. 85180. 38171. 941945. 661974. 371954. 932001. 671969. 16 3788. 403798. 773810. 643867. 503816. 33 D2172. 91187. 81189. 64197. 97187. 081965. 171970. 672016. 332014. 281991. 613874. 413885. 983986. 924096. 853961. 04 D3187. 95200. 96211. 37221. 33205. 401951. 191983. 812107. 322094. 432034. 193722. 813865. 744080. 084203. 513968. 04 Mean174. 79185. 93191. 96199. 891954. 001976. 282026. 192036. 793795. 13850. 173959. 214055. 95 SourceSEm CD (P=0. 05)SEm CD (P=0. 05)SEm CD (P=0. 05) Plant density (D)0. 591. 7210. 1029. 637. 6022. 30 Phosphorus level (P)0. 681. 9911. 6634. 218. 7825. 75 D x P1. 173. 4420. 2059. 2615. 2044. 60 Table 4 Effect of plant densities and phosphorus levels on number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant and pod yield per plant of vegetable cowpea cv. Arka Garima. Pod length (cm)Pod girth (mm)No. of pods per plant Plant densitiesP hosphorus levels P0P1P2P3MeanP0P1P2P3MeanP0P1P2P3Mean D118. 4721. 8021. 8323. 1321. 3111. 8712. 0012. 2713. 2712. 3515. 1316. 4717. 4718. 3316. 5 D218. 5319. 4020. 6720. 5319. 7811. 3313. 1312. 5312. 0012. 2515. 1316. 0717. 0017. 6716. 47 D316. 8017. 1322. 3322. 2719. 6310. 9311. 2712. 0012. 0711. 5715. 1315. 3316. 0716. 9315. 87 Mean17. 6319. 4421. 6121. 9811. 3812. 1312. 2712. 4415. 1315. 9616. 8417. 64 SourceSEm CD (P=0. 05)SEm CD (P=0. 05)SEm CD (P=0. 05) Plant density (D)0. 120. 340. 220. 650. 120. 36 Phosphorus level (P)0. 130. 390. 260. 750. 140. 42 D x P0. 230. 680. 44NS0. 25NS Table 5 Effect of plant densities and phosphorus levels on number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant and pod yield per plant of vegetable cowpea