Dolichos bean, also known as Hyacinth bean or Indian bean is an important vegetable grown throughout the north eastern hill region
Traditional uses: The plant was used as decoction in alcoholic intoxication, for the treatment of cholera, diarrhoea, globefish poisoning, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea ..
Soil preparation
The soil is prepared by ploughing 2 to 3 times and then levelling by planking. Raised beds and double row system should be practiced for higher yield and less labour requirement.
Spacing
Bush type – 15-20 cm distance on the ridges at 50 – 60 cm apart. Pole type 1 –1.5 meter apart rows and plant to plant distance around 50-75 cm.
Irrigation
During rainy season no irrigation is required, whereas during summer season irrigations at 5 – 7 days interval is must. Irrigation must be given only in furrows only.
Intercultural operations
Remove weeds by hands and if necessary use Kudali for tilling the soil for better aeration and crop growth. Provide bamboo or thread support to pole type dolishos bean for better growth and high yield of good quality green pods.
Manuring
10 – 15 tones FYM/ha should be applied 3 weeks before sowing.
Fertiliser
20 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 60 kg K2O/ha is recommended. Full dose of Phosphorus and potassium and half nitrogen are applied as a basal dose and the rest N is applied top dressed at 30 days after sowing
Disease and its control
Powdery mildew, phytophthora and rust are common diseases of dolichos bean. The fungal diseases can be controlled by spray of fungicides like Ditahne M-45 (2g/lt), Wettable sulphur (3g/lt) or Dinacab (1ml/lt) at 7 days intervals. Pod borer, aphid, hopper and agromyzid fly attack cowpea. Their control is suggested with phosphomidon (0.5ml/lt) for aphids and Carbaryl (2g/lt) for pod borer.
Harvesting
Crop is ready after 75 days of sowing in bush type and 3 months in pole type. Harvesting should be done at 3 – 4 days interval for getting good quality tender fully grown green pods. Bushy cultivars give 4 – 5 pickings while pole type cultivars give 8 – 10 pickings
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