Response of Rajmah bean to different bio-enhancers under organic farming

Abstract

A field investigation entitled “Response of Rajmah bean to different Bio-Enhancers under Organic Farming” was conducted in kharif season of 2024 at the Organic Farming Research and Training Centre, MPKV, Rahuri. The experiment consists of eleven treatments viz., T1: Absolute control, T2: Water spray, T3: Foliar spray of Cow urine @ 10%, T4: Foliar spray of Vermiwash @ 10%, T5: Foliar spray of Panchagavya @ 3%, T6: Foliar spray of Chitosan @ 5%, T7: Foliar spray of Amrutpani @ 5%, T8: Foliar spray of Jeevamrut @ 10%, T9: Foliar spray of Sea weed extract @ 2%, T10: Foliar spray of Waste decomposer @ 25%, T11: Foliar spray of Kunapajala 5%. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The phule rajma variety seeds were line sown at spacing of 30 cm ×10 cm. At the time of sowing an application of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) at 60:80:00 N:P₂O₅:K₂O kg ha⁻¹, integrated with vermicompost 2400 kg ha⁻¹ and phosphate rich organic manure (PROM) 700 kg ha⁻¹ as a basal dose and foliar sprays of different bio-stimulants were applied. The results showed that growth attributing characters viz., plant height (48.14 cm), plant spread (34.39 cm), number of branches plant-1 (8.65) and dry matter (34.59 g) accumulation were recorded by application of T6 Foliar spray of Chitosn @ 5% at 30 and 45 DAS. The treatment T5 Foliar spray of Panchagavya @ 3% at 30 and 45 DAS and T4 Foliar spray of Vermivash @ 20% spray at 30 and 45 DAS were found at par with treatment T6 Foliar spray of Chitosan @ 5% at 30 and 45 DAS in respect of growth parameters. As regards yield attributing characters viz., number of pods plant-1 (17.48), weight of pods plant-1 (21.87 g), number of seeds pod-1 (4.82), number of seeds plant-1 (80.54), weight of seeds plant-1 (20.71 g), seed yield (1802 kg ha-1) and stover yield (2516 kg ha-1) of rajmah bean were recorded significantly the highest under treatment T6 Foliar spray of Chitosan @ 5% at 30 and 45 DAS. It was followed by and at par with other treatments T5 Foliar spray of Panchagavya @ 3% at 30 and 45 DAS and T4 Foliar spray of Vermivash @ 20% spray at 30 and 45 DAS. A one-season experimental study can be concluded that an application of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) at 60:80:00 N:P₂O₅:K₂O kg ha⁻¹, integrated with vermicompost 2400 kg ha⁻¹ and phosphate rich organic manure (PROM) 700 kg ha⁻¹ as a basal dose, along with foliar application of Chitosan @5% at 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS), significantly enhanced yield-attributing parameters, seed yield, nutrient uptake, and economic returns of kharif rajmah bean cultivated on medium black soil.