Studies on Standing Crop Biomass and Primary Productivity of Horse Gram in Jharkhand

The standing crop biomass in different plant compartments was found to be variable with the age of the crop. The total plant biomass of ageing plant indicated a sigmoidal curve in three varieties of Birsa Kulthi–1, Birsa Kulthi–2 and Birsa Kulthi–3. The total plant biomass was recorded to be 115.53 g/m2 (Birsa Kulthi–1), 92.85 g/m2 (Birsa Kulthi–2) and 72.42 g/m2 (Birsa Kulthi–3) at final harvest i.e. 105 days. Contribution of stem and leaves to the total plant biomass has increased between 15 and 90 days. Infl./pod biomass per cent as found to be increasing throughout. Standing dead biomass was maximum 9.40 per cent (Birsa Kulthi–1), 8.97 per cent (Birsa Kulthi–2) and 6.53 per cent (Birsa Kulthi–3) at final harvest i.e. 105 days. Peak values for current increments in biomass were observed at 90 days in Birsa Kulthi–1 and 105 days in Birsa Kulthi–2 and Birsa Kulthi–3. The peak values for net primary productivity were found to be highest at 90 days for Birsa Kulthi–1 and 105 days harvest for Birsa Kulthi–2 and Birsa Kulthi–3.