Screening of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L) Wilczek) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) for higher growth and yield

Abstract

A series of screening trials were conducted to identify superior genotypes of mung bean (Vignaradiata (L) Wilczek) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) with high yielding potential and growth performances, at Bata-atha in the Hambantota district, dry zone of Sri Lanka. Over 45 genotypes of mung bean and over 100 genotypes Of cowpea were used fo r initial screening. Row seeding (15m length row) was done representing each genotype fo r each row replicated 5 times. In between row spacing was 45cm and within row spacing was 15cm. A fter several rounds of screening, fiv e superior genotypes of mung bean i.e. VC 1378, VC 3580-B, Berken, T-77 andRanna Yellow andfive superior genotypes Of cowpea i.e. IT85D-3428, IT82D-504-4, IT84D-449, IT86D-1054 and Bombay were selected, considering their growth (shoot weight and total phytomass production) and yield (pod weight) parameters with N (20 kg o f N/ha) and without N (0 kg o f N/ha) fertilizer application. The highest seed yield was recorded from the mungbean-genotypes VC 1378 (1058 kg/ha) and VC 3580 B (800 kg/ha) and cowpea genotypes IT 82D-504-4 (1664kg/ha) and IT 85D-3428-4 (1623 kg/ha). Results revealed that there was a high genotypic variability in all growth and yield parameters o f cowpea and mung bean. Low yielding genotypes did not respond to Nfertilizer in terms of growth and yield but high yielding genotypes showed a positive response to N fertilizer (20 kg o f N/ha). There were some genotypes which showed higher nodulation and higher BNF capacity, which could contribute positively to the yield without the application of fertilizer N. Considering the overall performances, fiv e genotypes of mung bean; VC 1378, VC 3580 B, Berken T-77 and Ranna Yellow and five genotypes of cowpea; IT 85D-3428-4, IT 82D-504-4, IT 84D-449, IT 86D-1054and Bombay were selected as superior genotypes fo r the Southern Dry Zone of Sri Lanka