Not AvailableThe experiments were conducted during 2007 and 2008 under simulated shade net house conditions
by growing crops namely green gram (Vigna radiata L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merril.) with
three different regimes of shade (33, 50 and 75%) or without shade as control (open sunlight) to test
the influence of shade on the phenology of crops beginning with the germination. Although seed
germination was successful (93% to 100%) in all the three regimes of shade and open field, germination
was faster in shade than open field in both the crops. However, there was differential response with
the requirement of days to achieve maximum germination between the crops where green gram showed
faster rate of germination than soybean. Time taken for leaf maturity or full expansion varied with the
crops and the intensity of shade. Expansion rates of leaf length (LER) and lamina width were higher in
shade than in open field. These were faster in green gram than soybean. However, degree of difference
in LER between shade and open grown plants was less in soybean than in green gram. In green gram,
flowering initiation was observed within 31-38 DAS (days after sowing) either in open field or 33%
shade and within 34-40 DAS in 50% or 75% shade. In soybean, flowering initiation was observed within
33-41 DAS in all the three regimes of shade and it took relatively more time to flower initiation in
open condition i.e. 37-44 DAS. A trend similar to flowering initiation was also observed in pod formation
in green gram and soybean. The observed consistent trend for all the parameters of crop phenology
indicate a relatively better shade adaptability in terms of its resilience to shade induced changes in
crop phenology in soybean than green gram in a semi-arid region.Not Availabl
