Microclimate and seed yield of Cluster bean varieties under two row orientations

Abstract

An investigation on microclimate and seed yield of Cluster bean cultivars under two row orientations was carried out during Kharif season 2020-21, at Research Farm Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The treatment comprised of three cultivars/varieties V₁ (HG 365), V₂ (HG563) and V₃ (HG 2-20) and two row orientations D₁ (East-West) and D₂ (North-South) which were replicated thrice in factorial randomized bock design. The diurnal profiles of temperature and humidity were measured in crop canopy using Assmann psychrometer in all the treatments at important phenophases. The profiles showed lowest diurnal variations at bottom of the canopy and highest at the top of canopy. The top of canopy was much closer to the ambient environment as compared to bottom of the canopy. Intercepted Photo-synthetically active radiation was little higher in north-south shown crop as compared to east-west sown crop, however it is not statistically significant. Variety HG 2-20 intercepted more PAR as compared to other cluster bean varieties. The North-South crop row orientation had a higher seed yield owing to its greater number of pods/plant as compared to East-West crop row orientation. The cultivar HG 2-20 had a higher seed yield due to more pods/plant.