Improving Productivity and Profitability of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L). Wilczek] Through Agronomic Fortification of Iron and Zinc under Arid Conditions of Western Rajasthan

Background: Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] is considered as an extremely nutritious crop possessing a high level of micronutrients. However, the low bioavailability of these micronutrient leads to their deficiency in human. Agronomic fortification is a short-term strategy for increasing micronutrient concentrations, but it is easier and more feasible to achieve as compared to breeding. Methods: The field experiment was laid out in Split-Split Plot Design (SSPD) with twenty-four treatment combinations and replicated thrice. The main plot treatment was comprised with two varieties namely GM-7 and GM-4 varieties, in sub plots three iron fortification levels and in sub-sub plot treatments assigned with different doses of zinc sulphate and seed inoculation (SI) with zinc solubilizing bacteria (ZSB). Result: Results revealed that mungbean variety GM 4 significantly outperformed GM 7 in terms of mean seed yield (1076 kg/ha). This higher yield resulted in a maximum net return of ₹66,974/ha and a notable improvement in the benefit-cost (B:C). Agronomic bio-fortification with zinc and iron levels of 20 kg FeSO4/ha (0.5%) and seed inoculation with ZSB+20 kg ZnSO4/ha + 0.5% foliar sprays at flower initiation and pod formation stage scientifically improves mungbean productivity and seed yield (1025 kg/ha and 1052 kg/ha, respectively) and also provided higher net returns of ₹62,051/ha and ₹64,202/ha, with improved economic feasibility, yielding B:C ratios of 3.20 and 3.26 on a pooled basis.