Response of french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) to irrigation schedule and phosphorus level in Vertisols

A field study was carried out during 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 at the experimental farm of Agricultural Research Station, Kota, to study the response of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to irrigation scheduling and phosphorus levels in Vertisols. Scheduling of irrigation at branching + flowering + pod-development stages was significantly better than 2 irrigations at branching + pod-development stages and found at par with IW: CPE ratio of 0.5 and 0.7 in terms of seed yield. Application of phosphorus influenced seed yield significantly up to 60 kg P₂O₅/ha. Mean values of consumptive use of water and Et:Eo were maximum at IW: CPE of 0.7 (4 irrigations), whereas water-use efficiency was minimum at this scheduling of irrigation. Consumptive use of water and Et:Eo increased with the increasing levels of phosphorus up to 80 kg P₂O₅/ha, whereas WUE was the maximum at lowest level (20 kg P₂O₆/ha).