Performance of French bean crop as influenced by biochar levels and INM practices in acid Inceptisol of Meghalaya

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 at Research Farm of ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH) Region, Umiam, Meghalaya. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design which comprised of four treatments viz., B1: (Control), B2: (5 t/ha Biochar), B3: (10 t/ha Biochar), B4: (15 t/ha Biochar) in factor A and factor B having three integrated nutrient management (INM) practices like NM1: (100% RDN), NM2: (75% RDN + 25% FYM), NM3: (50% RDN + 50% FYM) with three replications. The results showed that, significant maximum plant height (77.7 and 78.9 cm) and dry matter accumulation (37.6 and 39.3 g/plant) at the harvest stage, leaf area index (4.24 and 4.30) and number of branches/plant (26.2 and 26.9) at 60 DAS, number of pods/plant (32.3 and 33.1), fresh pod (7.57 and 7.75 t/ha) and biological yield (10.6 and 10.9 t/ha) was noticed under biochar @ 15 t/ha as compared to other treatments. Significant maximum value of plant height (75.1 cm) at harvest stage was recorded under 75% RDN + 25% FYM followed by 100% RDN during the first year. While during the second year significant highest plant height (77.0 cm) was observed under 50% RDN + 50% FYM followed by 75% RDN + 25% FYM. However, significant maximum dry matter accumulation at harvest stage (34 g/plant) was found under 75% RDN + 25% FYM during the first year while, during the second year significantly highest dry matter accumulation at harvest stage (35.2 g/plant) was observed under 50% RDN + 50% FYM. During the first year of experimentation, maximum number of branches/plant (23.4) and leaf area index (4.08) at 60 DAS was noticed under 75% RDN + 25% FYM. While, during the second year significant higher number of branches/ plant (24.0) and leaf area index was recorded under (4.15) 50% RDN + 50% FYM. Significantly highest number of pods/plant (24.5), fresh pod yield (5.8 t/ha) and biological yield (8.54 t/ha) was observed under 75% RDN + 25% FYM during the first year. While, during the second year the significantly maximum number of pods/plant (25.5), fresh pod yield (5.97 t/ha) and biological yield (8.70 t/ha) was noticed in 50% RDN + 50% FYM. Therefore, the application of biochar @ 15 t/ha along with the conjoint application of 50% RDN + 50% FYM is a viable, economical, and best alternative option for French bean production in the Indian Himalayan region or other similar ecoregions.