Performance of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (var. shreya) under peach-based agroforestry system

A field study was conducted to explore the possibility of successful cultivation of Phaseolus vulgaris (pencil bean var. shreya) as intercrop under peach-based agroforestry system and in open condition. The study comprised of three main treatments of tree proximity viz., D1-middle, D2-periphery and D3-open; and six sub-treatments viz., T1-recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (RDF; which consisted of nitrogen (N)-50 kg ha⁻¹, phosphorus (P)-100 kg ha⁻¹, potassium (K)-51 kg ha⁻¹ + farm yard manure (FYM) @ 20 t ha⁻¹), T2–50% vermicompost + 50% RDF, T3–50% FYM + 50% RDF, T4–100% vermicompost, T5–100% FYM and T6-recommended dose of jeevamrut i.e. 500 L ha⁻¹. In case of tree proximity, plant height, fruit setting and available N were found maximum in D1. Soil physico-chemical properties were found to be improved under tree canopy as compared to outside canopy. Different fertilizer combinations revealed maximum plant height in T1, pod yield plant as well as economic yield in T2, number of nodules plant and available N in T1. The findings of present study suggested that treatment T2 and T5 found to be effective for cultivation of P. vulgaris in combination with peach trees.