Productivity and quality of rice bean [Vigna umbellate (Thumb)] fodder as influenced by sowing date and spacing

To study the performance of fodder rice bean as influenced by dates of sowing and spacing, the field trial was conducted during kharif season of 2012, 2013 and 2014, based on a factorial randomized block design with three replications, under rainfed condition at experimental research farm, Andro, Central Agricultural University, Imphal. The treatments comprised combination of three dates of sowing (26th May, 4th June and 14th June) three-row spacing (25 cm, 35cm and 45 cm). Significantly higher green fodder yield and plant height (302.6 q/ha and 163.9 cm, respectively) were recorded in rice bean sown in 26th May as compared to 4th June and 14th June sowing. Higher quality and growth parameters at harvest viz., crude protein content (11.67%), crude protein yield (7.51q/ha) and dry matter yield (64.2 q/ha) were also recorded in 26th May sowing but found insignificant. Significantly higher growth and yield attributes (green fodder yield of 251.4 q/ha) were recorded in row spacing of 35 cm. The proximate qualities of fodder rice bean were not influenced significantly by the row spacing. May 26th sowing with 35 cm row spacing had higher green fodder yield (323.5 q /ha) and showed significantly higher interaction in fodder rice bean.