Jiwamrita: A Low Cost Organic Nutrient Source for Growth, Yield and Economics of Organic Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] under Changing Agricultural Environment

Aims: To find a suitable alternate option of nutrient management in organic mungbean with standardization of dose and its mode of application.

Place and Duration of Study: Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, Jodhpur between July 2020 and October, 2020.

Methodology: Treatment comprised of main plots as mode of application: M1: Soil application, M2: Foliar application and M3: Soil and foliar application and sub plots as dose of Jiwamrita: S1: Control, S2: 50 ml/l, S3: 100 ml/l and S4: 150 ml/l were replicated thrice in split plot design. FYM @ 5.0 t/ha was applied on the soil and the field of the experimental site was prepared by disking following harrowing and planking. The crop variety GM 6 was sown on 10th July, 2020 at row spacing of 30 cm with seed rate of 15 kg/ha. The plants were kept at 10 cm distance after thinning at 15 days after sowing. Jiwamrita was prepared using Palekar [1] method (Photo 1) and was kept in shade for 7 days. It was filtered before using for spray as per treatments. It was applied as soil spray at the time of sowing and 15 days after sowing as per treatments of different doses. Foliar application of Jiwamrita was done at 15 and 30 days after sowing as per treatments. Total quantity of solution containing Jiwamrita was 500 liter/ha in all the treated plots. In control plots, a quantity of 500 liter/ha was used as spray. Weeding was done manually at 15 and 30 days after sowing. Data on growth attributes, yield attributes and grain yield was recorded from net plot size of 4 m x 1.8 m and converted into hectare basis. The gross return was computed by multiplying current price of mungbean with yield. The net return was estimated by deducting cost of cultivation from gross return. The benefit-cost ratio was worked out by dividing gross return by cost of cultivation.

Results: Maximum plant height of 71.5 cm was recorded with a dose of Jiwamrita @ 150 ml/liter which was at par with Jiwamrita @ 100 ml/liter. The SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) of leaves increased at 50 DAS (53.5) being maximum with Jiwamrita @ 150 ml/liter which was significantly higher over SCMR recorded with Jiwamrita @ 50 ml/liter (34.7). The significantly maximum number of pods/plant (28.7) and maximum grain yield (1314 kg/ha) was recorded due to combined application of soil and foliar application of Jiwamrita. Among doses, maximum number of pods (30.9) was recorded under Jiwamrita @ 150 ml/liter which was 30, 24 and 16 percent higher over control and Jiwamrita @ 50, 100 ml/liter. The application of Jiwamrita @ 150 ml/liter resulted in significantly higher grain yield (1221 kg/ha) which was found at par with Jiwamrita @ 100 ml/liter (1179 kg/ha) which were 17 and 13 percent higher, respectively, over control and 9 and 5.6 percent higher, respectively, over Jiwamrita @ 50 ml/liter. The maximum net return ( 65672 ha-1) was recorded with 150 ml/liter followed by 100 ml/liter ( 62686 ha-1).

Conclusion: Jiwamrita is a fermented microbial culture which provides essential nutrients to plants. Its application in both soil and plant canopy were found beneficial. The study revealed that twice application of Jiwamrita in soil at the time of sowing and 15 days after sowing and twice application of Jiwamrita as foliar spray at 15 and 30 days after sowing significantly increased the growth attributes, yield attributes and yield of organic mungbean.