Impact of potassium fertilization and stress-mitigating chemicals on productivity and profitability of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner, Rajasthan, during the Kharif 2022 to assess the impact of different levels of potassium and stress-mitigating chemicals on mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. Treatments comprised of potassium doses of 20, 30 and 40 kg K2O/ha with a control and stressmitigating chemicals [KNO3 @ 100 ppm, thioglycolic acid @ 100 ppm and kinetin @ 50 ppm and control]. Data showed that application of 40 kg K2O/ha significantly increased plant height, dry matter accumulation and plant growth indices, viz. crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and leaf area index (LAI) over control and 20 kg K2O/ha. However, it was at par to 30 kg K2O/ha in terms of RGR and NAR. Further, foliar sprays of TGA @ 100 ppm at 30 and 45 days after sowing significantly improved plant height and dry matter accumulation at 50 DAS and maturity, CGR, RGR and NAR at 25–50 DAS and LAI at 50 DAS over control and KNO3 @ 100 ppm while it remained on par with kinetin @ 50 ppm. The highest net returns (`61,554 and 62,543) and B:C ratio (3.16 and 3.40) were also recorded by application of 40 kg K2O/ha and foliar spray of TGA @ 100 ppm, respectively. Hence, application of 40 kg K2O/ha and two foliar sprays of TGA @ 100 ppm at 30 and 45 days after sowing may be recommended to achieve higher growth and profitability of mungbean.