MSc

The study entitled “Agro techniques for container grown yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata var.sesquipedalis (L.) Verdcourt)” was undertaken at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2015 - 17. The objectives of the study were to identify an ideal growth medium, to standardise nutrient schedule, irrigation interval and trailing method so as to formulate an agronomic package for container grown yardlong bean. The study was conducted as two separate experiments.
The first experiment on ‘Growth media evaluation and nutrient studies in container grown yardlong bean’ was conducted during the rabi season of 2016 at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The treatments consisted of three growth media {M1: soil : sand : FYM (1 : 1 : 1), M2 : soil : sand : coirpith : FYM (1 : 0. 75 : 0.25 : 1), M3: soil: sand: coirpith: FYM (1: 0.5 : 0.5 : 1)}, three nutrient levels (N1 : 100% recommended dose (RD) of NPK, N2 : 150% RD of NPK, N3 : 200% RD of NPK ) and two time of application (T1: full NPK as basal and T2: half N, full P & K as basal + half N as fermented groundnut cake at fortnightly interval up to 50 per cent flowering). The recommended dose (RD) for yardlong bean is N: P2O5: K2O @ 30: 30: 20 kg ha-1 as per the Package of Practices Recommendations Crops. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with three replications. The crop was raised in uniform sized growbags (39 cm x 26 cm) with 18 treatment combinations. The major nutrients N, P and K were applied by organic means as groundnut cake, bone meal and wood ash respectively as per the treatments.
Results of the study indicated that among the growth media, M3 registered significantly higher values for growth parameters viz., primary branches and functional leaves plant-1 and crop duration (104.33 days) and was on par with M2. The major yield attribute, number of pods plant-1 (48.51) was significantly superior in M3. Pod yield plant-1 (862.74 g) was superior for M3. Total dry matter yield plant-1, number of pickings, harvest index, root weight, root volume, plant NPK content and uptake were also found higher in M3.
The different nutrient levels did not exert any significant influence on growth attributes. However, N1 recorded the highest number of pods plant-1 (48.50) and harvest index (0.392). The plant NPK content and uptake were significantly superior in N1. N3 recorded higher root parameters viz., root weight, root volume and root shoot ratio.
Between the time of application, T2 was found superior with respect to most of the yield attributes viz., number of pods plant-1 (50.5), pod yield plant-1 (899.74 g), total dry matter yield plant-1, number of pickings and harvest index. T1 recorded higher root parameters viz., root weight and root shoot ratio. The treatment combination m3n1t2 registered the highest pod yield plant-1 (973.76 g). The individual effects (M3, N1 and T2) and their combinations (m3n1t2) recorded the highest net income (₹ 39.15 bag-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.03).
The second experiment ‘Studies on trailing pattern of yardlong bean under various irrigation frequency’ was conducted during the summer season of 2017 at the Instructional Farm, Vellayani using the best growth media identified {soil: sand: coirpith: FYM (1: 0.5 : 0.5 : 1)} from the first experiment. The treatments included three trailing methods (R1: pandal system, R2: trellis system and R3: trailing stand) and two irrigation frequencies (I1: daily and I2: when plant is at temporary wilting stage) replicated thrice adopting completely randomized design.
Results of the study indicated that among the trailing methods, R3 registered the longest crop duration (105.9 days). The major yield attributes viz., number of pods plant-1 (50.49), pod yield plant-1 (832.03 g), total dry matter yield plant-1 and harvest index were significantly superior in R2 which also registered the highest NPK uptake. R1 and R2 recorded higher root shoot ratio.
Between the irrigation frequencies, daily irrigation (I1) registered significantly superior growth attributes like primary branches and functional leaves at 45 DAS. The major yield attributes viz., number of pods plant-1 (50.49) and pod yield plant-1 (941.84 g) were significantly superior in daily irrigation (I1). The same treatment also registered higher total dry matter yield plant-1, more number of pickings, harvest index, root parameters and high plant NPK uptake.
Net income and benefit cost ratio were found to be higher with the trellis system (R2) and daily irrigation (I1). The treatment combination r2i1 recorded the highest net income (₹ 45.48 bag-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.36).
From the results of the experiments conducted, the agronomic package for container grown yardlong bean can be summarised as
Growth media : soil, sand, coirpith, FYM in ratio 1: 0.5: 0.5: 1 by weight basis (3 kg soil, 1.5 kg sand, 1.5 kg coirpith and 3 kg FYM)
Nutrient level and time of application : 100% recommended dose of NPK (basal application of 20 g groundnut cake + 10 g bone meal + 70 g wood ash and top dressing with fermented groundnut cake (10 g L-1) bag-1 @ 30 & 45 DAS )
Trailing method : Trellis system
Irrigation interval : Daily basis