2023, Vol. 8, Special Issue 5

The field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, over two consecutive summer seasons, i.e., 2021 and 2022. The study encompassed twelve distinct treatment combinations, incorporating two varieties (Pusa-1431 and Virat) and six nutrient management treatments (100% NPK, 75% NPK + 5 t ha-1 FYM, 75% NPK + 5 t ha-1 FYM + NPK Consortia, 75% NPK + 5 t ha-1 FYM + Nano-P Spray at 25 DAS, 75% NPK + NPK Consortia + Nano-P Spray at 25 DAS, and 75% NPK + 5 t ha-1 FYM + NPK Consortia + Nano-P Spray at 25 DAS). The experiment followed a factorial randomized block design with three replications.

The outcomes underscore the substantial superiority of the Pusa-1431 variety compared to the Virat variety in terms of yield attributes, including the number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), number of grains per pod, and test weight, ultimately impacting overall yield. Moreover, the study revealed that applying 75% NPK + 5 t ha-1 FYM + NPK Consortia + Nano-P Spray at 25 DAS led to noteworthy increases in the aforementioned yield attributes—number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), number of grains per pod, test weight, grain yield, straw yield, and biological yield—surpassing the outcomes of traditional farmer practices. The treatment closely followed in performance by 75% NPK + 5 t ha-1 FYM + Nano-P Spray at 25 DAS. Furthermore, the economic assessment indicated that both Pusa-1431 variety and the application of 75% NPK + 5 t ha-1 FYM + NPK Consortia + Nano-P Spray at 25 DAS yielded significantly higher net returns and a superior benefit-to-cost ratio when compared to other treatments.