Impact of bioorganic nutrients and chemical fertilizers on sustainable production of French bean and soil health

Abstract

Aim: To determine the impact of bioorganic nutrients and chemical fertilizers on sustainable production and profitability of french bean and soil health improvement. Methodology: The effects of bioorganic nutrients (jeevamrurth, ghan-jeevamrurth, vermicompost, and FYM) and chemical fertilizers on french bean were studied during 2018 and 2019 with nine treatment combinations on growth parameters, yield attributes, productivity, and profitability of french bean. Residual soil fertility in terms of various soil properties was also assessed after the completion of the experiment. The economic analysis of different treatments was worked out to select the most profitable nutrient combination. Results: Results showed that plant height, branches per plant, nodules per plant, green pod length, green pods per plant, pods weight per plant and total pod yield of french bean were significantly greater with the application of vermicompost 5t ha-1 + jeevamrurth @ 5% at a weekly interval as compared to all other treatments. This superior combination recorded 42.2% increase in green pod yield over control with the highest net returns (₹ 1,47,530 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.56). Also, this treatment significantly enhanced soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, culturable microbial count and available nutrient contents as compared to control thus improving soil health. Interpretation: Application of vermicompost 5 t ha-1 + jeevamrurth @ 5% at weekly interval treatment performed best amongest all treatment combination for growth and yield attributes of French bean with better economic output and soil health improvement in terms of a positive nutrient balance.