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Pak. J. Bot., 44(3): 981-987, 2012.

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EFFECT OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON THE GROWTH OF MUNGBEAN [VIGNA RADIATA (L.) WILCZEK] GROWN IN QUETTA

ABDUL KABIR KHAN ACHAKZAI^1*, HABIBULLAH², BASHARAT HUSSAIN SHAH³ AND MIRZA ABDUL WAHID⁴

Abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate the growth respose of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] cultivars subjected to different levels of applied N fertilizer. To achieve the aim, an experiment conducted in the experimental field of Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), Quetta. The soil of the study area was basic in reaction, salt free, medium textured having low organic matter & total N contents. Four different cultivars of mungbean viz., NM-92, NM-98, M-1, and NCM-209 grown in kharif season for two consecutive years i.e., 2007 and 2008. Six different levels of N fertilizer applied @ zero, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg ha^-1. While, a constant dose of P₂O₅ and K₂O also applied to each N level (except control, zero). Urea fertilizer used as a source of N, while TSP and SOP as sources of P & K, respectively. The plot size kept as 2.40m² (4x4x0.15), and arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results showed that different fertilizer levels did significantly (p<0.05) influenced most of the growth attributes of the mungbean. Maximum days to flowering (48.25) and number of branches plant^-1 (3.83) recorded for plants subjected to highest dose of applied N fertilizer viz., 100 kg ha^-1. Similar responses toward added N fertilizer also noted for various cultivars of mungbean. Maximum days to flowering (47.72) and number of leaves plant^-1 (5.86) recorded for NCM-209. Whereas, the maximum plant height (38.52 cm) number of branches plant^-1 (3.72) obtained for mungbean cultivar M-1. The correlation coefficient (r) studies exibited that plant height (0.593), number of leaves plant^-1 (r=0.325), number of branches plant^-1 (r=0.187) and leaf area (r=0.342) significantly (p<0.05) and positively correlated with their grain yield (kg ha^-1). However, days to 50% flowering (r=-0.265) are also significantly but negatively associated with their grain yield (kg ha^-1). Thus based on correlation studies it could revealed that cultivars under cultivation displayed a wide range of variation for most of the mentioned growth traits and could be exploited in breeding programme to enrich the mungbean genetic treasure.

¹Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan

²Government Degree College, Mastung, Balochistan, Pakistan

³Arid Zone Research Institute, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

⁴Directorate of Cotton Crop, Agricultural Research Institute, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.

^*Corresponding author e-mail: profakk@yahoo.com