Response of Mungbean of Plant Arrangements and Irrigation Amounts

Abstract

Water availability and planting method are major factors related to crop growth and yield, where other factors, such as fertility, disease etc., do not limit growth and yield, The effects of plant arrangements and irrigation amounts, and their interactions in yield and yield components of mungbean, cv. Chai Nat 36, were examined during 16 December 1994 and 28 Feburary 1995 at Chai Nat Field Crops Research Centre. Responses in yield and yield components of plant arrangements to irrigation amounts were similar. Yield increased from 196 kg/rai at IW/E (ratio of irrigation water to cumulative evaporation) 0.1 to 293 kg/rai at IW/E 0.7 . Square planting gave the highest yield (284 kg/rai), compared to other rectangularties, whereas the yield (255 kg/rai) was lowest with 10:1 rectangularity. The number of pods/plant was the most sensitive to irrigation amounts, and this increased with increasing irrigation levels. Pods/plant, seeds/pod and seed size were significantly affected by plant arrangement. These components were highest with square planting. Water use efficiency increased with decreasing irrgation amounts from IW/E 0.7 to 0.1. Square planting had highest water used efficiency (2.69 kg/rai/mm), followed by 5:1 and 10:1 rectangularities.