Studies on Growth, Yield and Soil Fertility Status in Cluster Bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub] cv. Pusa Navbahar under Natural Farming Practice in Comparison with Conventional Farming

Abstract

Background: The cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] is a bushy annual herb having a deep rooted system and drought resilient leguminous crop grown on sandy soils of arid and semiarid regions. The production list of cluster bean is dominated by India as leading producers of the crop in the world contributing to around 75-82% of the total production. Methods: Field experiment was conducted in Block-I at The Regional Horticulture Research and Extension Center, Kumbapur, Dharwad. The authentic source of Cluster bean seeds of Pusa Navbahar were purchased from Nadakatti seeds, Dharwad. Treatments are imposed as T1 (Package of Practice: FYM @ 10 t/ha, 25:75:60 NPK Kg/ha), T2 (Farmers Practice: FYM @ 10 t/ha, 12.5:37.5:30 Kg/ha), T3 (Natural Farming: Ghanajeevamrutha @ 1000 Kg/ha and liquid jeevamrtha @ 500 l/ha every fortnightly interval, with organic mulching) and T4 (Organic Farming: FYM @ 15 t/ha). Result: Among four different farming practices, higher plant height at harvest was recorded in package of practice (80.0 cm). The higher number of pods per plant and higher dry biomass production was recorded in organic farming (102.3 and 2.14 t/ha) respectively. 26.8 per cent higher yield was recorded in organic farming (OF) over PoP. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and uptake in cluster bean was found significantly higher in PoP (2.13, 0.58 and 1.17%) and (42.20, 11.51 and 23.11 Kg ha-1) respectively. Natural farming treatment recorded significantly lower nutrients content and uptake.