Performance of rajma (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivars under organic mulches in Meghalayan Plateau of North Eastern India

A field experiment was conducted at college of postgraduate studies farm during winter season of 2015-16 in Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya to study the effect of two different organic mulch on rajma cultivars. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three main plot treatments (mulching practices) and four sub-plot treatments (rajma cultivars) and replicate thrice. It was recorded during this field investigation, that the performance of weed mulch was better over maize stover and no mulch. The emergence percentage (89%) was better under weed mulching. The plant parameters, viz., plant height (51.19 cm after 60 DAS), number of branches per plant (7.84 after 60 DAS), pod length (15.05 cm), dry matter accumulation per meter square (1.15 kg), number of seeds per pod (6.48) was found significantly higher for the cultivar Selection-9 over remaining three varieties. Yield of 2.37 t ha-1 was recorded for weed mulch, followed by maize stover mulch (2.22 t ha-1) and no mulch (2.05 t ha-1). Similarly, weed mulch registered highest harvest index of 41.09% followed by maize stover mulch. The average yield of Selection-9 was found to be 2.52 t ha-1 which was higher significantly over other three cultivars.