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A MUNGBEAN CULTIVAR X POPULATION X ROW SPACING STUDY

G. Littlejohns1, L. Heuke2, R. Brinsmead3, J. Holland1 and P. Thompson3

1 Tamworth Centre for Crop Improvement, PMB 944, Tamworth, NSW 2340
2
Australian Cotton Research Institute, Private Mail Bag, Myall Vale, NSW 2390
3
Hermitage Research Station, Warwick, Qld 4370

Production of high quality mungbeans has increased in recent years in north-western NSW and southern Queensland, despite limitations in understanding of the crop's agronomy. This has stimulated our study of the effects of variation in row spacing and within-row plant density on growth and seed yield.

METHODS

Trials were conducted in 1994/95 at sites in northern NSW (Tamworth Centre for Crop Improvement and I A Watson Plant Breeding Institute, Narrabri) and southern Queensland (Hermitage Research Station, Warwick and Dalby). Each trial compared the cvv. Berken and Emerald at densities of 10, 20 and 40 plants/m2. Row spacings of 25, 50, 75 and 100 cm were evaluated in NSW, and 17.5, 35 and 70 cm in Queensland.Treatments were replicated three times.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The benefits of narrow rows increased as seed yield increased (Fig. 1). The influence of row spacing became non-significant when site yields were very low. Decreasing row spacing to 17.5 or 25 cm only had a significant effect when seed yields were above 800 kg/ha. Within-row plant density significantly affected average seed yield at three sites (Fig. 1). Higher seeding rates gave highest yields when water availability was high. Optimum sowing rates became lower as yield potential decreased. Emerald yielded significantly more than Berken at Dalby, and similarly at lower yielding sites.

Figure 1. Influence of row spacing and plant population on seed yield.

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