Stress Alleviation and Productivity Enhancement in Summer Mungbean Using Natural and Chemical Ameliorants

RAKSHA, AMIT DHANKAR*, SHIVANI SHARMA, MAHESH KUMAR RANA, SUNITHA FOGAT, SONU KUMARI, SAMAR SINGH AND SAKSHI
Faculty of Agriculture, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala-133 207 (Haryana),
India
*(e-mail: amitdhankarhau@gmail.com; Mobile: 86830 83783)
(Received: January 4, 2026; Accepted: March 20, 2026)

ABSTRACT

The present investigation was conducted during the summer season of 2024. Eight different stress management treatments were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments were soil application of herbal hydrogel (Tragacanth katira) at 5 kg/ha (T₁), soil application of herbal hydrogel at 7.5 kg/ha (T₂), two foliar sprays of salicylic acid (SA) at 200 ppm (T₃), soil application of herbal hydrogel at 5 kg/ha+two foliar sprays of SA at 200 ppm (T₄), soil application of herbal hydrogel at 7.5 kg/ha+two foliar sprays of SA at 200 ppm (T_{5/sub>), two foliar sprays of KNO3 at 10 ml/l (T6), soil application of herbal hydrogel at 5 kg/ha+two foliar sprays of KNO3 at 10 ml/l (T7), soil application of herbal hydrogel 7.5 kg/ha+two foliar sprays of KNO3 at 10 ml/l (T8) and control (T9). Application of herbal hydrogel at 7.5kg/ha was found superior to at 5 kg/ha and salicylic acid at 200 ppm was more effective in order to increase the yield parameters than application of KNO3. Among all stress management treatments, T5 was found best in order to achieve higher yield attributes and yield of mungbean crop. The highest growth parameters and seed yield (1206 kg/ha) of mungbean crop were recorded from control treatment. Among the stress mitigation treatments, soil application of herbal hydrogel 7.5 kg/ha + two foliar sprays of SA 200 ppm resulted in maximum number and dry weight of nodules (15.8 and 43.6 mg) at harvest and also resulted in maximum seed yield (1027 kg/ha) followed by T4 treatment. Maximum net returns and B:C were calculated from T5 (Rs. 47868/ha and 2.10) and minimum from T1 (Rs. 15444/ha and 1.37).
Key words: B:C ratio, growth, KNO3, mung bean, salicylic acid, stress, yield}