Effect of crop establishment methods and phosphorus levels on productivity and profitability of black eyed bean (Vigna unguiculata) in semi-arid region of Afghanistan

A field experiment was carried out at the research farm of the Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University, Kandahar, Afghanistan during the rainy (kharif) season (April-August) of 2017, to study the influence of crop establishment methods and phosphorus levels on yield and profitability responses of black eyed bean (Vigna unguiculata L.). Treatments were evaluated in split plot design consisting of 3 crop-establishment methods (broadcast, line sown and raised bed planting method) in main plots and 4 phosphorus levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P₂O₅/ha), in sub-plots replicated thrice. Raised bed planting method recorded significantly higher pods/plant (15.1), dry matter accumulation/plant at harvest (67.4 g), pod length (15.2 cm), total seeds/plant (103.9), seeds/pod (8.99), weight of seeds/plant (6.81 g) and 1, 000-seeds weight (228.6 g), which resulted in significantly higher seed yield (2.06 t/ha). Owing to the higher yields recorded with raised bed planting method, the net returns (AFN 92, 979/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.67) were also higher with this particular treatment. Among the phosphorus levels, application of 60 kg P₂O₅/ha, resulted in better yield attributes, which led to significantly higher seed yield (2.18 t/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.78) compared to other phosphorus levels.