Title: Response of Lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.) on Different Levels of Phosphorus and Row Spacing on Growth and Yield under Manipur Condition
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to study the response of Lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.) on different levels of phosphorus and row spacing on growth and yield under Manipur condition during the rabi season of 2011-12 and 2012-13 at the Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal. The treatments comprised of two different spacing (20 x 10cm and 30 x 10 cm) and five levels of phosphorus (0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kg P2O5 ha-1). The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Wider row spacing (30 cm) produced significantly higher branches/plant (10.23), pods/plant (12.65) and seeds/pod (4.43) than the closer row spacing (20 cm). Application of phosphorus @ 50 kg P2O5 ha-1 significantly gave the higher number of branches per plant (10.67) than the application of 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 (7.98) and control (5.90) but remained at par with 30 (10.58) and 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 (10.62). The spacing of 20 x 10 cm gave the maximum yield (738.69 kg ha-1) and was significantly higher as compared to 30 x 10 cm (660.56 kg ha-1). Significantly higher grain yield was recorded with the application of 50 kg P2O5 ha-1 (825.01 kg ha-1) and it remained at par with the application of 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 (794.31 kg ha-1) and 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 (779.26 kg ha-1). The highest B: C (3.11) was recorded from the application of 30 kg P2O5 ha-1. Total N, P and K uptake was significantly higher in wider spacing as well as application of 50 kg ha-1 and the lowest in control. Maximum apparent P recovery was obtained from 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 (18.96) and the lowest from 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 (12.27). From the above experiment it was found that application of 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 when planted at a spacing of 20 x 10 cm, found to be the best treatment for obtaining higher yield and also maintaining the soil health besides providing higher income for the farmer.