Evaluation of sowing time and spacing on growth of Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus L.) in Konkan region

The research was conducted at the Vegetable Research Field, Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Dapoli, under the auspices of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist.-Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The aim of the research was to determine the sowing time and the optimal plant spacing of winged bean. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with nine treatment combinations and three replications. The treatments were three levels of sowing time (2nd fortnight of September, 2nd fortnight of October and 2nd fortnight of November) and three levels of spacing (50 x 50 cm, 50 x 75 cm and 50 x 100 cm). The results of the analysis of variance show that growth parameters [germination percentage (100.00%), days to 1st flowering (52.67), days to 50% flowering (72.17), number of inflorescences per vine (50.00), number of pods per vine (80.87) and vine length at final harvest (799.33 cm)] were recorded from sowing in 2nd fortnight of September with plant spacing of 50 x 50 cm. According to our analysis, the 2nd fortnight of September seems to be the best time for sowing and winged beans can be grown with a spacing of 50 × 50 cm.