Effect of water table depth on the growth and yield of mungbean

Abstract

An experiment was conducted under vinyl house condition to evaluate the effects of depth of water table on the growth and yield performance of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). Three water table depths (20, 50 and 100cm) were simulated using PVC cylinders of variable heights. The cylinders were filled with silty clay soil placed in water troughs and the seeds were sown on the top of the cylinders. Plants with high water table (20cm) were shorter with lesser number of leaves compared with those of other two treatments. Generally the higher the depth of water table the lower was the dry matter accumulation; but the difference between plants with intermediate (50cm) and deep (100cm) water tables was not significant. High water table significantly reduced dry matter of all the components. High water table also caused severe reduction in root volume and root dry weight but the shoot:root ratio remained unaltered. Seed yield was maximum in the plants with deep water table and the lowest in those grown with high water table. Water table depths influenced all the yield attributes.