Growth, Yield and Quality of Cluster Bean Varieties as Influenced by Organic Production System

Abstract

Background: Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers causes harmful impact on soil, environment and human being, hence demand of organic food products has shot up recently. Organic cultivation aims to optimization of crop productivity rather than its maximization through restoration and back up of ecological processes and functions of whole ecosystem. Limited varieties are available on long term performance of pulse crop varieties under organic farming system so far. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to investigate the growth and yield performance of cluster bean varieties under organic production system. Methods: In this field-laboratory investigation during 2016-2020, eight varieties of cluster bean were studied under organic production system. Experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The recommended quantity of nutrients for cluster bean is 15:40:00 kg NPK ha–1 and manures were applied on nitrogen equivalent basis through organic sources. The observations on growth and yield parameters of cluster bean were recorded at the time of harvesting. Soil and plant samples were collected at time of harvesting and analyzed for available nutrients in soil and nutrient content in seed samples. Result: Our investigation exhibited significant improvements in plant growth parameters, yield and yield attributes. The maximum plant height at harvest (123.53 cm), number of primary branches per plant (9.46), number of pods per plant (66.08), number of seeds per pod (8.66) with highest seed yield (1490.42 kg ha-1) were exhibited by variety RGC-1038 followed by RGC-1055 (1365.11 kg ha-1). Significant improvement in yield and yield attributes on the pooled basis were recorded in variety RGC-1038 followed by RGC-1055 and lowest seed yield (761.14 kg ha-1) was found in the variety RGC-986. RGC-1038 variety recorded highest plant nutrient status as compared to other varieties. The maximum net returns (Rs.48403/-) and B:C ratio (3.09) were recorded with the variety RGC-1038. Among eight varieties of cluster bean RGC-1038 and RGC-1055 found promising for organic farming in terms of growth, seed yield, quality and net return aspects.