Vol. 10, Special Issue 1, Part I (2026)

The present investigation was conducted at the Research Farm, Mandsaur University, Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh), India, during the Kharif season (June-December 2024). The experiment aimed to evaluate the impact of different sowing methods and spacing treatments on the growth and yield of Urdbean. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications, comprising two main plot treatments (flat bed and raised bed sowing) and four subplot treatments of spacing (broadcasting, 30×30 cm, 45×30 cm, and 60×30 cm), resulting in eight treatment combinations (T₁-T₈). Urdbean variety T-9 was sown using a seed rate of 15 kg ha⁻¹ with a recommended fertilizer dose of 20:40:20 kg N:P:K ha⁻¹. Raised bed sowing recorded a higher plant population compared to flat bed sowing, with 25.01 plants m⁻² at 30 DAS and 19.36 plants m⁻² at harvest, while flat bed sowing recorded 19.07 and 13.01 plants m⁻², respectively.

Raised bed sowing (B₂) improved nutrient availability, harvest index, and crop growth of Urdbean compared to flat beds (B₁), with the highest N, P, and K recorded at 371.52, 38.00, and 155.01 kg/ha, respectively, under B₂S₂ (Raised bed + 30×30 cm spacing). Among spacing treatments, 30×30 cm (S₂) favored nutrient uptake and harvest index (15.93), while 60×30 cm (S₄) enhanced relative and crop growth rates. Interaction effects highlighted that B₂S₂ consistently achieved maximum harvest index (16.06), relative growth rate (0.059), and crop growth rate (2.981). Overall, raised bed sowing combined with 30×30 cm spacing was most effective for optimizing nutrient availability, growth dynamics, and productivity of Urdbean.