Weed Dynamics and Productivity of French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as Influenced by Organic Sources of Nutrients and Weed Management

Abstract

Background: Balancing productivity, profitability and environmental health is a key challenge for maintaining agricultural sustainability. The use of locally available agro-inputs in agriculture by avoiding or minimizing the use of synthetically compounded agro-chemicals appears to be one of the probable options to sustain the agricultural productivity. Widespread use of herbicides has resulted in purported environmental and health problems as well as residual toxicity issues in succeeding crops. At present, the awareness on safe food is increasing. So, keeping this point in view the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the influence of organic sources of nutrients and weed management on growth, yield and weed flora of Frenchbean. Methods: A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2016 and 2017. The present investigation was laid out in split plot design with six sources of nutrients in main plot and four weed management treatments in sub plots. Result: Application of treatment T5 recorded significantly higher growth parameters, yield attributes, fresh pod yield, net returns and B:C ratio of French bean which was statistically at par with T3 and T2. Amongst the weed management treatments, treatment W1 resulted in significantly lowest species wise and total weed density and biomass, highest weed control efficiency, lowest weed index, highest growth, yield attributes and fresh pod yield of French bean which was statistically at par with W2 and W0. However, the highest net returns and B:C ratio were obtained in weed free plots.