Background: Rapid expansion in population increased the global food demand. To meet this surge in demand for food and to ensure food and nutritional security addition of pulses in the cropping system is a visible alternative. Pulses intensifies cropping intensity, enhances health and fertility status of the soil and acts as a good source of dietary protein etc. However, due to a wide gap between the potential and actual yield of pulses in rainfed areas. Hence, identification and adoption of best management practices has become a pre-requisite. The present study was undertaken as the information available on foliar nutrition and different crop geometries on performance of different blackgram genotypes in rainfed condition is meagre. 
 
Methods: In this investigation conducted during kharif&nbsp;season of 2018 at Advanced Centre for Rainfed Agriculture, SKUAST-Jammu, Rakh Dhiansar. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with 3 factors and 3 replications. The factor-1 consisted of three blackgram cultivars (Uttara, PU-31 and Mash-114), factor 2 consisted of two crop geometries (30&times;10 cm and 45&times;10 cm) and factor-3 consisted of three foliar nutrition (Foliar spray of molybdenum as sodium molybdate @ 0.1% at 20 DAS, Foliar spray of 1.5% KCl at flowering and Foliar spray of molybdenum as sodium molybdate @ 0.1% at 20 DAS fb 1.5% KCl at flowering). 
 
Result: The results from the present investigation indicated that adoption of Mash-114 at 30&times;10 cm crop geometry, supplemented with foliar application of molybdenum as sodium molybdate @ 0.1% at 20 DAS fb 1.5% KCl at flowering could be a viable technological proposition under rainfed conditions of Jammu.

Effect of Foliar Nutrition and Crop Geometry on Cultivars of Blackgram in Shiwalik Foothills of Jammu

<div>A field experiment was carried out during kharif season of 2016 and 2017 at an experimental farm of MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India to study the influence of foliar application of nutrient on growth, yield, economics, soil nutritional status and nutrient uptake of soybean crop. An experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) comprising of three replications and nine treatments. Recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) was applied as basal application to all treatments. Seven treatments consisted of different doses of nutrients as foliar application at pod initiation stage. Water spray at pod initiation stage and RDF alone were treated as control. The results revealed that, growth attributes, nodulation and its weight, morpho-physiological parameters, yield and its attributes, nutritional parameters and economics significantly differed by various foliar nutrition treatments except control and RDF + water spray. RDF + Urea 2% (3098 kg ha-1) gave significantly higher seed yield over control (2704 kg ha-1) and RDF + water spray (2686 kg ha-1) but was at par with RDF + DAP 2% (3050 kg ha-1), RDF + MOP 0.5% (2992 kg ha-1) and RDF + Molybdenum 0.5% (2955 kg ha-1). The increase in seed yield with foliar application of 2% Urea along with RDF was 14.57% over control and 15.34% over RDF + water spray. Higher net returns (Rs. 49,006/- ha-1) and benefit: cost ratio (2.23:1) was obtained in treatment RDF + Urea 2% followed by RDF + DAP 2% foliar spray. Availability of N, P and K was significantly higher with treatment RDF + Urea 2% foliar spray over control and RDF + water spray. N and P uptake by soybean plants was significantly higher in treatment RDF + 2% Urea over RDF + water spray and RDF alone (control).</div>

<div>Influence of Foliar Application of Nutrient on Growth, Yield, Economics, Soil Nutritional Status and Nutrient Uptake of Soybean</div>

<div>Background: Blackgram is an important pulse crop having potential to meet up nutritional security. It is mainly grown in rice-fallow condition under receding soil moisture, thus facing moisture deficit at critical growth stages. As a consequence, this crop suffers from reduced nutrient uptake from soil that results in reduction of productivity. A suitable way to nourish the crop under such circumstances is through foliar nutrition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: An experiment to assess the role of foliar nutrition on overall performance of spring blackgram was conducted at &ldquo;AB&rdquo; block farm, Kalyani, Nadia of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India in 2018 and 2019 spring seasons. Eight foliar nutrition schedules [control, water spray, CaCl2 @ 0.1%, KCl @ 0.2%, KNO3 @ 0.2%, salicylic acid @100 ppm, complex NPK (19:19:19) @ 2% and DAP @ 2% at initiation of flower and pod] were allocated in a randomized complete block design with three replications. 
 
Result:&nbsp;Complex fertilizer NPK (19:19:19) @ 2% improved crop growth attributes like, LAI, CGR, chlorophyll content and nodules plant-1. Yield components, yield along with net return increased with complex NPK (19:19:19) @2%. The protein content was also the highest with complex NPK (19:19:19) @2%. So, foliar nutrition with 2% NPK (19:19:19) at initiation of flower and pod may be recommended for maximizing productivity of spring blackgram.</div>

Foliar Nutrition in Spring Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] in Lower Gangetic Plains of West Bengal

<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was conducted during kharif &nbsp;2013 to Study &ldquo;Foliar nutrition in groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.)&rsquo;&rsquo;at Main Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad under rainfed situation. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block Design (RCBD) with three replications and ten foliar treatments of major nutrients. The growth attributes such as plant height (23.94 cm), number of branches (7.82 plant-1), chlorophyll content (43.58), leaf area (8.90 dm2 plant-1), leaf area index (2.97), leaf area duration (40.69 days), total dry matter production (40.22 g plant-1), net assimilation rate (0.136 g dm-2day-1) and crop growth rate (0.124g dm-2 day-1) were higher in foliar spray of 2.0% urea + DAP + MOP combination (T8). Similarly, pod yield (3746 kg ha-1), kernel yield (2905 kg ha-1), haulm yield (4253 kg ha-1) and harvest index (0.36) were higher in foliar spray of 2.0% urea + DAP + MOP combinationat 45 DAS followed by foliar spray of 19:19:19 N:P2O5:K2O compared to control (No spray).</div>

Growth analysis in groundnut (Arachis &nbsp;hypogea L.) as influenced by&nbsp;Foliar nutrition

<div>Background: Micronutrient formulation is a liquid mixture of micronutrients which can be used as a fertilizer. It is a mixture of two solutions viz., solution A and solution B. Solution A is a mixture of zinc sulphate (50 gL-1), boric acid (10 gL-1), copper sulphate (20 gL-1), manganous sulphate (0.5 gL-1), ferrous sulphate (10 gL-1) and ammonium molybdate (0.5 gL-1) whereas solution B is an organic acid which act as a chelate. The mixture can be diluted to specific concentrations for application. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of micronutrient formulation as seed treatment and foliar nutrition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was conducted at College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kerala Agricultural University and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode during 2018&ndash;19. The investigation was carried out in three parts: (i) standardization of micronutrient formulation for cowpea (ii) seed treatment study (iii) field experiment. The proportion of mixing micronutrient formulation and the duration for seed treatment was standardized in experiment I. In experiment II, a seed treatment study was carried out in a completely randomised design with seven treatments and three replications which included seed treatment with micronutrient formulation @ 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 percent as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 respectively. T7 (seed treatment with water) was the control. Three, a field experiment was carried out in randomized block design (factorial) with twelve treatments and three replications. The treatment consisting of combination of four levels of seed treatment - factor A [no seed treatment (S1), seed treatment with rhizobium (S2), seed treatment with best concentration from experiment 1 (S3) and second best seed treatment from experiment 1 (S4)]&nbsp;and three levels of foliar application of micronutrient - factor B [no foliar application (F1), one foliar application at 15 DAS (F2) and two foliar applications at 15 and 30 DAS (F3)]. 
 
Result: Through lab experiments, solution B was standardized and the formulation was developed by mixing solution A and solution B in the ratio 1:2. Duration for seed treatment was also standardized as 6 hours. Thus micronutrient formulation was standardized. In seed treatment study, seeds treated with 2% micronutrient formulation (T6) showed highest plant height at three leaf stage (24.23 cm) and seedling vigour index (2423). In the field experiment seed treatment with 2% micronutrient formulation (S3), foliar spray at 15 and 30 days after sowing (F3) and their interaction (S3F3) was found to be highly effective to the crop in terms of plant height, stem diameter, number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant, grain yield and nutrient content in grain. These results clearly indicate the role of micronutrient formulation in enhancing the growth, yield and nutrient content of cowpea.</div>

Evaluation of Micronutrient Mixture as Seed Treatment and Foliar Nutrition in Grain Cowpea

&nbsp;A field experiment was conducted at Forage Research and Management Centre, NDRI, Karnal during Kharif season of 2014 and 2015 to study the effect of zinc application on productivity and quality of fodder maize. The treatment consists of two fodder maize cultivars African tall and J-1006 in main plot and six zinc sulphate treatments viz. No zinc sulphate, 10 kg/ha &nbsp;ZnSO4 as basal dose, 20 kg/ha &nbsp;ZnSO4 as basal dose, 0.5% &nbsp;one foliar spray &nbsp;of ZnSO4 at 30 DAS, 0.5% &nbsp;two foliar spray of ZnSO4 at 30 and 45 DAS and 10 kg/ha &nbsp;ZnSO4 as basal dose+0.5% &nbsp;one foliar spray at 30 DAS in subplots of split plot design. Soil and foliar applied zinc sulphate had significantly improved green fodder, dry matter yield and quality parameters viz leaf length, leaf width, leaf stem ratio of both the cultivars tested. From the results of two year study, it can be concluded that maize fodder productivity and quality can be enhanced with Zinc fertilization.

Enhancing productivity and quality of fodder maize&nbsp;through soil and foliar zinc nutrition&nbsp;

Background: Field experiments were conducted at Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai during 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 to find out suitable bio inoculant, weed management practice and foliar nutrition for Rice fallow blackgram. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The experiments were carried out by using RCBD (Factorial) with three replications. The treatments viz., Seed inoculation [A1- Control (no seed inoculation), A2- Rhizobium + PSB (local), A3- LSMR 1 + RB 3 microbial consortia], Weed management [B1- Weedy check, B2- Propaquizafop 2.50 % + imazethapyr 3.75 % ME @ 125 g ha-1&nbsp;at 15-20 DAS, B3- Fomesafen @ 220 g ha-1&nbsp;+ fluzifop-p-butyl @ 220 g ha-1&nbsp;at 15-20 DAS] and Foliar nutrition [C1- Water spray at flower initiation and pod initiation stage, C2- Nano urea spray @ 0.25 % at flower initiation and pod initiation stage, C3- 19:19:19 NPK @ 2% at flower initiation and pod initiation stage].&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Result: The lower weed density, weed dry weight and higher weed control efficiency was recorded with application of early post emergence herbicide fomesafen + fluzifop-b-butyl @ 220 g ha-1&nbsp;at 15-20 DAS.&nbsp; Seed inoculation with LSMR1 + RB3 microbial consortia, application of fomesafen + fluzifop-b-butyl @ 220 g ha-1&nbsp;at 15-20 DAS and foliar nutrition with 19:19:19 NPK @ 2 % at flower initiation and pod initiation stage had taller plants, higher pods plant-1, more seeds pod-1&nbsp;and test weight which led to higher grain yield. Due to increase in blackgram yield, the same treatment achieved higher gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio. 
&nbsp;

Effect of Seed Inoculation, Weed Management and Foliar Nutrition in Rice Fallow Blackgram for Higher Productivity in Cauvery Delta Zone of Tamil Nadu

<div>Background: Foliar spray of nutrients offers a best way to accelerate crop growth and boost up productivity of mungbean under irrigated conditions to meet out the demand raised by ever increasing population of our country. The study was framed to investigate physiochemical and biological properties of fermented fish waste extract (FFWE) and its effects on productivity performance in mungbean.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The organic liquid FFWE was characterized for its physiochemical and biological properties in the laboratory. Field experiments were conducted during Kharif 2019 and 2020 in mungbean to study the effect of FFWE as foliar spray on growth, yield, quality and economics. Treatments consisted of foliar spray of different concentrations of FFWE (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 %) compared with 1% urea and control. The treatments were replicated four times in a randomized block design. 
 
Result: Laboratory analysis showed that fermented fish waste extract contains considerable amount of essential nutrients namely nitrogen (1.87%), phosphorus (0.49%), potassium (0.93%), calcium (0.54%), magnesium (0.26%), sulphur (0.04%), copper (3.1 ppm), zinc (38.2 ppm), manganese (4.8 ppm) and iron (118 ppm).&nbsp; The microbial population viz., total bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in FFWE were found to be 196&plusmn;1.8, 11&plusmn;0.06 and 203&plusmn;0.87 (CFU/mL), respectively. Field experiments revealed that 2.0% FFWE foliar spray at flowering stage and 15 days after first spray in mungbean found to improve the plant height, (40.8 cm) dry matter production (1770 kg/ha), leaf chlorophyll (SPAD value 40.0), number of pods per plant (28.3), seeds per pod (9.9), grain yield (665 kg/ha) and grain protein (23.4%). Economics of foliar nutrition showed that foliar spray of 2.0% FFWE gave higher net return of Rs. 24057/- per ha and benefit cost ratio of 2.30. Thus, it could be concluded that foliar spray of 2.0% fermented fish waste extract could be considered as an excellent source of organic liquid manure for enhancing the productivity of mungbean.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

Effect of Organic Foliar Nutrition on Performance and Production Potential of Mungbean [Vigna radiata L.]

Background: Coconut is one of the major plantation crops in Kerala which are planted at a wider spacing of 7.6 m &times; 7.6 m giving an ample opportunity for growing intercrops. To enhance soil fertility and productivity of crops inclusion of legumes is a viable option. Blackgram, though a shade sensitive crop performs well in partially shaded coconut gardens due to fast growing nature. The unique ability of biological nitrogen fixation, soil amelioration, carbon sequestration, low water requirement and capacity to withstand extreme drought, pulses have remained an integral component of coconut based cropping system. Since blackgram is a shade sensitive crop, to increase the productivity of blackgram in coconut garden, foliar spray of nutrients and growth regulators is a viable option. Under, shaded or stressed situations, nutrients and plant growth regulators provide optimum vegetative growth by regulating plant growth and architecture. The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of foliar nutrition and growth regulator application on the physiology and yield of different blackgram varieties. 
 
Methods: A field trial was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, India during rabi 2020 and summer 2020-21. To find the performance of five blackgram varieties. The treatments consisted of five performing blackgram varieties under partial shade viz; Sumanjana, DBGV 5, VBN 5, VBN 6, CO 6 and foliar sprays of nutrients (19:19:19 NPK, sulphate of potash) and plant growth regulators [naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and salicylic acid (SA)] alone and in combinations in split plot design at 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS).&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study identified Sumanjana and DBGV 5 as shade adaptive varieties with suitable physiological traits. In both seasons, a higher stomatal conductance and lower stomatal index were observed, indicating a more efficient allocation of resources towards the photosynthetic machinery. Foliar spray of 19:19:19 (1%) and NAA at 40 mg/L and SA at 100 mg/L at 45 and 60 DAS resulted in higher seed yield, dry matter production and also higher net income and benefit cost ratio for these two varieties.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Physiological Response of Blackgram Varieties to Foliar Nutrition and Growth Regulators under Partial Shade in Coconut Orchard in Kerala

<div>Background: Cowpea is a leguminous crop of indeterminate growth habit and continues to produce flowers throughout its life cycle. In order to realize the genetic yield potential of cowpea, nutrient requirements of later formed flushes also needs to be met. Hence the present study was formulated to assess the effect of foliar application of water-soluble macro nutrient fertilizers viz., NPK 19:19:19 and potassium nitrate and micronutrient fertilizers viz. zinc sulphate and solubor for yield maximization in bush vegetable cowpea. 
 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, during Rabi 2020-21. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 13 treatments in three replications. The treatments comprised of recommended dose of conventional fertilizers (RDF) NPK 20:30:10 kg ha-1 as control and RDF + foliar application of water-soluble fertilizers 19:19:19 (0.5%) and potassium nitrate (0.5%) with zinc sulphate (0.05%) and solubor (0.025%) in twelve different combinations. 
 
Result: Results revealed that compared to RDF alone, RDF + foliar application of water-soluble macro and micro nutrient fertilizers at 45 DAS significantly improved the dry matter production, number of pods per plant and pod weight and recorded a yield enhancement of 22 to 55 per cent. Among the treatments, RDF + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5%) and solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS recorded the highest dry matter production per plant (39.51 g), pods per plant (30.88 no.), pod yield (7410 kg ha-1), net return (82651 Rs ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.26). The treatments, RDF + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5%) at 45 DAS; RDF + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5%), zinc sulphate (0.05%) and solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS; and RDF + foliar application of potassium nitrate (0.5%) and solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS also recorded comparable number of pods per plant, green pod yield, net return and B:C ratio. Considering the highest green pod yield, net return and B:C ratio, RDF + foliar application of NPK 19:19:19 (0.5%) and solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS could be recommended for yield maximization in bush type vegetable cowpea.</div>

Effect of Foliar Nutrition and Crop Geometry on Cultivars of Blackgram in Shiwalik Foothills of Jammu

Influence of Foliar Application of Nutrient on Growth, Yield, Economics, Soil Nutritional Status and Nutrient Uptake of Soybean

Foliar Nutrition in Spring Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] in Lower Gangetic Plains of West Bengal

Growth analysis in groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) as influenced by Foliar nutrition

Evaluation of Micronutrient Mixture as Seed Treatment and Foliar Nutrition in Grain Cowpea

Enhancing productivity and quality of fodder maize through soil and foliar zinc nutrition

Effect of Seed Inoculation, Weed Management and Foliar Nutrition in Rice Fallow Blackgram for Higher Productivity in Cauvery Delta Zone of Tamil Nadu

Effect of Organic Foliar Nutrition on Performance and Production Potential of Mungbean [Vigna radiata L.]

Physiological Response of Blackgram Varieties to Foliar Nutrition and Growth Regulators under Partial Shade in Coconut Orchard in Kerala

Foliar Nutrition with Water Soluble Macro and Micro Nutrient Fertilizers for Yield Maximization in Bush Vegetable Cowpea