Influence of integrated nutrient management and sowing dates on growth, yield and quality of broad bean (Vicia faba L.)

Abstract

The present field investigation was carried out at Vegetable Experimental Farm, Division of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, SKUAST-J, Chatha during Rabi season 2018- 2019. The experiment comprised of three levels of inorganic fertilizers i.e. 50%, 75%, 100% of recommended dose (50:60:50 kg/ha NPK) combined with two organic sources of plant nutrients (FYM and Vermicompost) under two dates of sowing (2nd fortnight of October and 1st fortnight of November). The experiment comprised of 12 treatments laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. The result revealed that vegetative growth and yield parameters were significantly influenced by the application of different sources of nutrients under different dates of sowing. Application of 75% N through inorganic fertilizers in combination with 25% through vermicompost sown at 2nd fortnight of October yielded maximum number of pods/plant (78.33), pod weight/plant (95.07 g), plant height (156.27 cm), pod length (5.69 cm), pod width (0.88 cm), number of branches/plant (10.27), number of nodes/stem (19.00) and pod yield (149.47 q/ha) whereas, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% pod setting, 100 seed weight (g) and number of seeds/pod were found non-significant. Total soluble solids (10.27°B) and protein content (30.79%) were significantly highest in treatment combination of 75% N through inorganic fertilizers + 25% through vermicompost. Economically, this treatment recorded maximum cost benefit ratio (3.96) as compared to other treatment combinations, thus, replacement of 25% of chemical fertilizers with vermicompost in October sown broad beans.