Effects of Vermicompost, Fertilizer and Mulch on Plant Growth, Nodulation and Pod Yield of French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Abstract

SummaryIntegration of vermicompost and organic mulch as elements of vegetable production system sustain soil fertility and crop productivity. A field experiment was conducted with the objective to investigate the effects of vermicompost, NPK fertilizer and organic mulch on crop growth, nodulation and pod yield of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with an ultimate aim of optimizing water and nutrient requirement in mild-tropical climate during dry season. The shoot growth traits, namely shoot length, number of primary branches, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were increased by 28-63% through application of N P 2 O 5 K 2 O 8:13:10 kg·ha -1 + vermicompost 3.75 t·ha -1 and by 5-50% in organic mulching treatments. Application of vermicompost reduced nodule fresh weight and nodule dry weight by 44.9 and 44.5%, respectively. Likewise, corresponding nodule number, nodule fresh weight and nodule dry weight were reduced by 8.6, 11.1 and 14.1% with organic mulching. Poor nodulations might be due to reduced oxygenation of the soils under vermicompost and organic mulch which is ultimately impeding the nitrogenase activity and biological nitrogen fixation. Mulching of French bean with dried grasses and crop residues are also led to higher single pod weight, pod length, pod weight/plant and pod yield by 10.9, 12.8, 20.1 and 20.2%, respectively. Present study shows that application of N P 2 O 5 K 2 O fertilizer 8-15:13-25:10-20 kg·ha -1 , vermicompost 2.50-3.75 t·ha -1 , 4 cm thick mulch of dried crop residues and 50% irrigation is the most suitable and sustainable strategy to improve plant growth, pod formation and pod yield of French bean, and soil health of mild-tropical climate during dry season.

Response of land configurations, IW/CPE ratios and integrated nutrient supply systems on growth function, yield and water use efficiency of French bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL. PDR-14)

“…This might be due to slow and steady supply and availability of nutrients through biocompost and FYM with accelerated mineralization under raised bed condition coupled with increased solubility at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio moisture regime. These results are in accordance with the findings of Singh et al (2011).…”

Integrated Nutrient Management for Seed Production in French bean [Phaseolus vulgaris (L.)]

“…It was observed that the 100 seed weight was highest in T8 with 75%RDF +25%FYM+lime application. Ramana et al, (2011), Singh et al, (2011 and Haque et al, (2015) also reported this type of information and trend in their earlier research work.…”

Application of Compost and Vermicompost as Substitutes for Mineral Fertilizers to Produce Green Beans

“…Application of compost to newly reclaimed lands has a positive effect on green bean growth and production (Abdel-Mawgoud, 2006). Vermicompost has a significant positive influence on plant growth, flowering, fruiting, root development, yield and quality of beans (Fernandez-Luqueno et al,2010 andSingh et al, 2011). This study aims to evaluate replacing the mineral fertilizers for producing green beans partly or totally using compost and vermicompost.…”