1Scientist (Agronomy) and Principal Investigator, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya
2Scientist (Plant Physiology), ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya
5Senior Research Fellow, Network Project on Organic Farming, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya
6Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh-250 110
7Principal Scientist and National Coordinator, NPOF, ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh-250 110
8Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh
Network Project on Organic Farming, ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region, Umiam, Meghalaya-793 122
*Corresponding author's Email: jayanta.icar@gmail.com
Online Published on 29 January, 2022.
An experiment was conducted at Umiam, Meghalaya, to assess the performance of different cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) followed by no-till French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in cropping system mode under organic production system. During 2015, 2016 and 2017. The experiment was conducted with 10 cultivars of maize (8 composite cultivars and 2 local lines) followed by 10 cultivars of French bean (8 improved cultivars and 2 local varieties). Among all the maize cultivars evaluated over the years, maximum and minimum values of cob length, cob weight, green cob yield and kernel yield were noticed in variety ‘RCM 1–61’ and ‘Local white’ respectively. Significantly higher chlorophyll index at 60 days after sowing (DAS) was recorded in ‘RCM 1–61’ followed by ‘RCM 1–3’ and minimum in ‘RCM 1–1’ followed by ‘Hemant’. Moreover, ‘RCM 1–3’ and ‘RCM 1–2’ varieties of maize recorded significantly higher crude protein content, whereas ‘RCM 1–3’ followed by ‘Local Yellow’ recorded higher crude fibre against the other varieties of maize. The average highest yield of French bean in terms of green pod was recorded in ‘Naga local’ (8.91 t/ha) followed by ‘RCM FB 18’ (7.93 t/ha), ‘RCM FB 19’ (5.74 t/ha) and ‘RCM FB 80’ (5.73 t/ha). The maximum maize-equivalent yield (17.1 t/ha) and system productivity (6.3 t/ha) was observed for ‘RCM 1–61’ (maize cultivar)–‘Naga local’ (French bean) followed by ‘RCM 75’ (maize)–‘RCM FB 18’ (French bean) sequence. The highest net returns (`2,24,059/ha) also recorded from the ‘RCM 1–61’ (maize cultivar)–Naga local (French bean) cropping sequence. The soil organic carbon concentration was also enhanced after 3 years owing to adoption of maize–French bean cropping sequence and the highest value (21.8 g/kg) was recorded in ‘RCM 161’ (maize cultivar)–‘Naga local’ (French bean) sequence. The present study reveals the scope of successful cultivation of French bean in no-till maize fallow under organic rainfed production system.
French bean, Maize fallow, No-till, Organic management, Yield attributes
