Impact of different soil textures on the growth and yield parameters of green gram using Potculture experiment (Vigna radiata) on different soils of Namakkal district

Green gram (Vigna radiata), an important pulse crop, plays a vital role in nutritional security and sustainable agriculture. Its productivity is strongly influenced by soil texture, which governs soil moisture retention, nutrient availability, and root growth. A pot culture experiment was conducted during June–September 2024 at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, PGP College of Agricultural Sciences, Namakkal, to evaluate the impact of different soil textures on the growth and yield of green gram. Eight soil types—clay loam (PGPCAS wetlands), sandy loam (Sendamangalam and Muthugapatti), silty loam (Belukurichi), loamy (Kalappanayaikenpatti), sandy clay loam (Akkiampatti), clay loam (Melapatti), and silty clay loam (Bommasanudram)—were collected and tested under a completely randomized design with three replications. The results indicated that clay loam soil of Melapatti and silty clay loam soil of Bommasanudram significantly enhanced growth parameters such as clusters plant⁻¹ (9.55), pod length (7.9 cm), pods hill⁻¹ (56.0), and dry matter production (16.78 g). Yield attributes, including panicles plant⁻¹ (21.7), pod length hill⁻¹ (13.08 cm), and grain yield plant⁻¹ (9.60 g), were also highest in these soils, followed by sandy clay loam soils of Kalappanayaikenpatti. Conversely, the red soils of Muthugapatti recorded the lowest performance. It can be concluded that clay loam soils of Melapatti are best suited for cultivating green gram, as they provide superior growth and yield attributes compared to other soil textures.