OFF-SEASON PRODUCTION OF LABLAB BEAN UNDER SYLHET CONDITION

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate lablab bean genotypes for off-season production under Sylhet condition during January to October 2015 at the experimental field of Horticulture Department of Sylhet Agricultural University. Three photo-insensitive lablab bean genotypes viz., BP003, SB003 and SB010 were evaluated at three different sowing dates of 15 January, 15 March and 15 May, 2015 under RCB design with three replications with a view to identify suitable genotypes and their sowing dates in Sylhet condition. Among the genotypes, BP003 produced the maximum number of pods per plant (283) and pod yield/plant (1.64 kg/plant) which was closely followed by the genotype SB003 (1.60 kg/plant). The highest individual pod weight (5.79 g) and pod length (10.9 cm) were recorded from SB003 which were identical to that of BP003 (5.53 g and 9.41 cm, respectively). The genotype BP003 had the highest pod breadth (2.96 cm). The genotype SB010 exhibited the lowest individual pod weight (4.72 g), pod length (8.31 cm) and pod breadth (2.66 cm) among the genotypes. Sowing dates had significant influence on pod production during offseason production. The highest number of pods per plant (416.89) was recorded from the plants of 15 March sowing while it was 192.56 and 166.44 for January 15 and May 15 sowing, respectively. Similar trend was also observed for pod yield per plant. The highest pod yield per plant (2.20 kg) was recorded from March 15 sowing while it was 1.14 kg per plant for January sowing and 0.85 kg per plant for 15 May sowing.Yields of pod at January and May sowing were much lower than that of March sowing. The crop sown in January experienced much colder situation caused slow initial vegetative growth and the plants grown from May sowing were largely affected by heavy rain during the month of July - August might be the reason for low yield compared to that of March sowing. Significant interactions were found between genotypes and sowing dates in case of off season country bean production in respect to yield and yield attributes. The highest number of pod per plant (474.00) was harvested from the genotype BP003 when grown from 15 March sowing followed by SB003 grown from 15 March sowing Similar trend also found in case of pod yield per plant. The pod yield per plant was the maximum (2.80 kg) for the treatment combination of BP003 grown from 15 March while it was the minimum (0.68 kg) for SB010 when coupled with 15 May sowing.