Impact of different spacing on production of pole type lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) with intercropping of brinjal crop

Abstract

Lima beans are very nutritious underutilized legume crops. It is two types; bush type and pole type or vine varieties. Pole lima beans are grown for their distinctive flavour prized by local cooks (Namkeen) and high value as a fresh market crop in the district Farrukhabad. The pods are picked when they semi mature and seed sold for namkeen making. The experiment consisted three plant spacing (T1 S-1x1m Farmers practice without trellis, T2 S-2x2m+trellis, T3 S-3x3 trellis) and that effect on growth, yield and quality of lima bean and additional crop of brinjal as an intercrop at initial stage of lima beans. Flowering parameters Days to first flowering significantly earliest flowering was observed in the treatment T3 (S-3.0m x 3.0m + trellis), with minimum days for first flowering (72.50) and 50% flowering (92.50) at days after sowing. The number of pods per cluster (7.20) was found to be superior among all the treatment in spacing T3 followed by T2 and minimum in T1. Green Seed yield per hectare (q) as influenced by different spacing was found to be significant. The green seed yield per hectare (185q) was found significantly superior in the treatment T3 followed by (178q) in T2 and minimum (129q) in T1. The economics of the lima bean and intercrop of brinjal was found superior in treatment T3 with highest BC ratio.