Response of Mothbean to Organic Manure and Bioenhancer Application under Rainfed Conditions
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of the year 2021 at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat to study the effect of organic manure and bioenhancer on growth and yield of mothbean under loamy sand soil. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. Total sixteen treatment combinations comprised of four organic manures (castor shell compost @ 0.750 and 1.000 t/ha; FYM @ 4 t/ha and the recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN: 20 kg N ha⁻¹)) and four bioenhancer treatments viz., Beejamrut (seed treatment @ 200 ml/kg) + Jeevamrut (soil application @ 500 l/ha), panchgavya @ 3% at 50% flowering and 15 days after spray, Beejamrut (seed treatment @ 200 ml/kg) + Jeevamrut (soil application @ 500 l/ha) + panchgavya @ 3% at 50% flowering and 15 days after spray and water spray. The RDN treatment recorded the highest plant height (40.41 cm), branches plant⁻¹ (13.31), pods plant⁻¹ (41.84), seed yield (743 kg ha⁻¹), gross returns (₹54,490 ha⁻¹), net returns (₹21,554 ha⁻¹) and benefit:cost ratio (1.65), while castor shell compost at 1.0 t ha⁻¹ was generally comparable for several traits. Among bioenhancers, the combined application of Beejamrut + Jeevamrut + Panchgavya produced the highest plant height (40.70 cm), branches plant⁻¹ (13.61), root nodules plant⁻¹ (44.79), pods plant⁻¹ (41.72), seed yield (736 kg ha⁻¹) and stover yield (1244 kg ha⁻¹), while Beejamrut @ 200 ml/kg + soil application of Jeevamrut @ 500 l/ha at 5th week after sowing and panchgavya @ 3% at 50% flowering and 15 days after first spray were generally comparable for several traits. Whereas the interaction between organic manure and bioenhancer was non-significant for the measured growth and yield traits. The findings indicate that mothbean fertilized with 20 kg N/ha OR castor shell compost 1 t/ha along with 40 kg P₂O₅/ha to obtain higher yield and net returns. While in case of bioenhancers seed treatment of Beejamrut @ 200 ml/kg + soil application of Jeevamrut @ 500 l/ha at 5th week after sowing OR panchgavya @ 3% at 50% flowering and 15 days after first spray to obtain higher yield and net returns.
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Introduction
Mothbean is also known as moth or dew gram. It is an indispensable component of dryland farming system in arid and semi-arid regions because it is the most drought tolerant crop among kharif pulses largely grown predominantly on dryland areas with the least agronomic practices. It contains about 21% easily digestible protein being relatively rich in lysine and tryptophan, the essential amino acids in which cereals are deficient. It offers a variety of edible products such as vegetable and snacks. Mothbean is famous for Bikaneri bhujia and other preparations like dal, kheech, papad and mangori. As a legume, mothbean forms symbiotic associations with Rhizobium and contributes to biological nitrogen fixation.
Farmyard manure is a traditional and commonly available organic manure consisting of decomposed cattle dung, urine, bedding material and crop residues. Well-rotted FYM generally contains approximately 0.5-1.5% N, 0.4-0.8% P₂O₅ and 0.5-1.9% K₂O. Castor shell, a by-product of castor processing can also be composted after proper decomposition and used as an organic nutrient source.
Beejamrut is a seed-treatment preparation made from locally available ingredients including cow dung, cow urine, fresh cow milk and limestone. Jeevamrut is a liquid preparation made from cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, legume flour and a small quantity of living soil; it is used as a microbial bioenhancer. Panchgavya is traditionally prepared from five cow-derived products viz., dung, urine, milk, curd and ghee. Bio-chemical properties of panchgavya reveals that it possesses almost all the nutrients like N, P, K and micronutrients essential for plant nutrition and growth hormones like indole acetic acid and gibberellic acid required for crop growth (Selvaraj et al., 2007).
Although organic manures and bioenhancers are increasingly considered in low-input and sustainable crop production, their relative effects on mothbean growth, yield and economics require location-specific evaluation. Therefore, the present field experiment was conducted to evaluate different organic manure/nutrient treatments and bioenhancer combinations for improving growth, yield attributes, yield and economic returns of mothbean under loamy sand soil.
Conclusion
Based on results of the field experiment, it is concluded that mothbean fertilized with 20 kg N/ha OR castor shell compost @ 1 t/ha to obtain higher yield and net returns. While in case of bioenhancers, seed treatment of Beejamrut @ 200 ml/kg + soil application of Jeevamrut @ 500 l/ha at 5th week after sowing OR panchgavya @ 3% at 50% flowering and 15 days after first spray to obtain higher yield and net returns. Although water spray recorded the highest B:C ratio due to lower input costs, the highest net returns were obtained with Panchgavya alone. The interaction between organic manure and bioenhancer was non-significant, indicating that these treatments can be selected independently.
Limitations of the Study: The experiment was conducted in a single kharif season at a single location, so results may vary with rainfall distribution, soil type, and season. The long-term effects of organic manures and bioenhancers on soil health and productivity were not evaluated. Economic analysis was based on prevailing market prices at the time of the study, which may change over time. Future research should include multi-season and multi-location trials, soil health monitoring, and long-term sustainability assessment.
Future Research Directions: Priority research should include: (1) multi-season and multi-location validation of the present findings; (2) evaluation of residual effects on succeeding crops; (3) monitoring of soil biological and chemical properties under continued organic manure and bioenhancer application; (4) standardization and quality control of bioenhancer preparations; and (5) assessment of the compatibility of bioenhancers with integrated nutrient management programmes.
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