RESPONSE OF MUNGBEAN (VIGNA RADIATA L.) TO POTASSIUM APPLICATION RATES UNDER DESERT CLIMATE

Potassium is instantly correlated to growth, biomass and yield of plants. In Pakistan, potassium deficiency in most of the areas is becoming a nutritional limiting factor for crops yield. A field experiment was performed in 2014 to study the response of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) varieties to potassium application under arid climate. Five potassium application rates (0, 50, 75, 100, 125 kg ha-1) were implicated on three mungbean varieties (NM-98, NM-2006 and NM-2011). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications. Variable application of K on mungbean varieties showed positive effect on growth, physiological, water related and yield attributes. Transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and relative water contents (RWC) were found to be increasing with increasing K rates and maximum values were noted in NM-2011 while excised leaf water loss (ELWL) decreased gradually by applying K rates in all three varieties. Maximum seed yield, seeds per pod and 1000-seed weight was obtained in NM-98 with application of K at 100 kg ha?1. Results of present study conclude that NM-98 gave higher yield and showed maximum response to K application at 100 kg ha?1 relative to other rates of potassium application.