Impact of spacings on growth, seed yield and economics of rajma (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) varieties in rabi season

This study investigates the impact of plant spacing on the growth and yield of different
French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties, addressing the need to understand the
behavior of new genotypes under varying spacing conditions. Conducted during the rabi
season of 2022-2023 at the Experimental Farm, Agronomy Section, College of Agricultural
Biotechnology, Latur, the research aimed to find an optimal balance between vegetative and
reproductive growth to enhance yield. The experimental design was a Factorial Randomized
Block Design, examining nine treatments across two factors: spacing and variety. Among the
varieties tested, Phule Rajma (V 1 ) showed superior growth and yield, followed by Arka Komal
(V 3 ). A spacing of 45 cm × 30 cm was found to be most effective with Phule Rajma (V 1 )
achieving significantly highest seed yield (1905 kg ha -1 ), gross monetary returns (₹. 1,23,839
ha -1 ), net monetary returns (₹. 69,993 ha -1 ) and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.30. Furthermore,
wider spacing resulted in even greater seed yield (2148 kg ha -1 ), gross returns (₹. 1,38,263 ha –
1 ), net returns (₹. 84,167 ha -1 ) and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.56, compared to closer spacing.
The genotype performance varies with location, season and management practices. The
major constraint in the popularity of French bean in Maharashtra and Marathwada region is
the lack of production technology for the cultivation of French bean. These findings highlight
the significance of selecting appropriate spacing for optimizing French bean cultivation.