Evaluation of Mungbean plant spacing for optimising yield in smallholder cropping systems

Abstract

Mungbean production in Uganda is done largely by smallholder farmers and characterized by low yields. In order to increase the production and adaptability of mungbeans, it is vital to determine the optimum spacing within smallholder cropping systems. Mungbean spacings T1 (10cm), T2 (20cm), T3 (30cm) T4 (40cm) at a constant inter-plant spacing of 10cm were studied in a Completely Randomized Block Design. The experiment was undertaken in two mungbean growing districts of Eastern Uganda (Mayuge and Serere) and at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo in central Uganda during the second rains (August-December) of 2015. Yield and yield components were significantly influenced by plant spacing. At harvest, the highest plant height (53.62cm) was recorded under the spacing of 30 x 10cm T3. The highest number of pods per plant was recorded under spacing of 40 x 10cm T4 and highest grain yield under spacing of 10 x 10cm T1.These preliminary results indicate that various spacings were optimum for vegetative as opposed to grain yield. The more dense 10 x10 cm spacing resulted in the highest mungbean grain yield and could significantly ehance yield in uganda.