Mungbean planting date × row configuration × population – Narrabri 2015/16

Abstract

Key findings •• Sowing date (SD) had a significant effect on crop duration with the early spring planting, SD1, harvested 118 days after sowing (DAS), compared with 70 days for the early summer planting, SD2. •• Sowing date significantly affected yield, with SD1 yielding almost double that of SD2. Plant population and row spacing had significant impacts on yield in SD1 but no impact on yield with SD2. •• Yield was maximised with populations between 25 plants/m2 and 44 plants/m2 planted on 40 cm wide rows. •• Population had no significant effect on seed size or harvest index. The main response to increasing populations was reduced in crop establishment and increased crop height. •• Sowing date had a small, but significant, influence on seed size. •• The effect from widening row spacing from narrow (40 cm) to wide (100 cm) significantly decreased crop establishment and yield, yet increased crop height. A small but significant reduction in seed size was also observed: a result not previously found.