Assessing the effect of bio-formulations and nano urea on phenology and growth of mungbean under the Western agroclimatic region of Haryana

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek), also known as green gram and golden gram, is considered the hardiest among all the pulses and is cultivated throughout the country. It is an important catch crop in the rice-wheat cropping system. A field trial was conducted during Kharif 2022 and 2023 at Pulses Research Farm, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, CCSHAU, Hisar to evaluate the effect of seed treatment with bio-formulations and nano urea on phenology and growth of mungbean. The field experiment was planned in factorial randomized block design with the following treatments: Factor A: Seed treatment comprising control, nano urea, Rhizobium + PSB and Beejamrit; Factor B: Nitrogen management including control, 100% RDN through conventional fertilizer, soil application of nano urea @ 500 ml ha^-1, nano urea at 35 DAS @ 250 ml ha^-1, 50% RDN + nano urea at 35 DAS @ 250 ml ha^-1, urea @ 2% at 35 DAS. It was evident that Rhizobium + PSB reported a maximum CGR of 11.17 g m-2 day-1 at 20-40 DAS among seed treatments. 50% RDN + nano urea @ 250 ml/ha at 35 DAS reported CGR of 10.55 and 10.52 g m-2 day-1 in the years 2022 and 2023, respectively at the flowering stage of mungbean which was statistically at par with 100% RDN (11.04 and 11.10 g m-2 day-1 in the years 2022 and 2023, respectively) and can be adopted as one of the best alternatives of nitrogen management. It will reduce the demand for conventional fertilizers without compromising production potential and also help in enhancing nutrient use efficiency.