Response of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) under Semi Arid Tracts of Andhra Pradesh, India

Cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) is an important legume crop grown mostly under rainfed conditions in arid and semi-arid districts of Andhra Pradesh during the kharif and rabi seasons. It is a tough, drought-tolerant crop. Its deep penetrating roots allow the plant to more efficiently use available moisture, making it better suited for rainfed agriculture. The crop was facing more nutrient deficiencies as it needs more nutrients to buildup body. As cluster bean being a legume crop which has the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen by its effective root nodules the major part of nitrogen is met through Rhizobium present in the root nodules. Besides, due to increase in cost of inorganic fertilizers there was a need to integrate inorganic fertilizers with organic manure to protect soil health and reduce the cost of cultivation. An experiment was carried out during rabi season of 2022-23 at college Farm, Sri Krishnadevaraya College of Horticultural Sciences, Ananthapuramu. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design with three replications using cv. Pusa Navbahar, with seventeen treatments. The combination of organic manures, chemical fertilizers and reduced doses of chemical fertilizers along with organic manures were tested in comparison with Recommended dose of fertilizers. The yield attributes viz., number of clusters plant-1, number of pods in a cluster, length and diameter of pod differed significantly due to the different integrated nutrient management treatments. The treatment 75% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers and 25% RDF through vermicompost recorded significantly highest pod yield (14.93 t ha-1). For optimum growth, higher pod yield and high monetary returns from the crop should be supplied with the 75% of recommended dose of fertilizers and 25% RDF through vermicompost.