Influence of Phosphorus Levels and Organic Manures on Growth and Yield of Black Gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2025 at the Crop Research Centre, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, to study the effect of phosphorus levels and organic manures on the growth, physiological indices and yield of black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The treatments comprised three phosphorus levels (40, 50 and 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) and three organic manure sources, namely farmyard manure (FYM) at 5 t ha⁻¹, vermicompost at 2 t ha⁻¹ and poultry manure at 1.5 t ha⁻¹, along with an absolute control. Phosphorus application significantly improved growth, nodulation, dry matter accumulation, physiological growth indices and yield. The highest plant height (52.90 cm), number of branches plant⁻¹ (7.36), leaf area index (3.62), root nodules plant⁻¹ (27.20), dry matter accumulation at harvest (439.34 g m⁻²), crop growth rate (6.43 g m⁻² day⁻¹ during 40–60 DAS), grain yield (1412 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (3130 kg ha⁻¹) were recorded with 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. Among organic manures, vermicompost at 2 t ha⁻¹ produced the highest grain yield (1422 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (3045 kg ha⁻¹). The application of 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ with vermicompost at 2 t ha⁻¹ may improve the productivity of black gram under the conditions of the present study.