How to Cultivate Beans in India: A Guide for Farmers
Beans are a nutritious and versatile crop that can be grown in different climatic zones of India. Beans belong to the legume family and can fix nitrogen in the soil, improving its fertility. Beans can be harvested as green pods or dry seeds, depending on the variety and purpose. In this blog post, we will discuss the best practices and crop calendar for cultivating beans in India, as well as some pre-harvest and post-harvest methods to ensure quality and yield.
Best Practices for Beans Cultivation
Choose a suitable variety of beans for your region and purpose. There are two main categories of beans: hills and plains. Hills varieties are adapted to cold climates and have a long duration, while plains varieties are suited for warm climates and have a short duration. Some popular varieties of beans cultivated in India are:
- Hills: Ooty 1, Ooty (FB) 2, YCD 1, Arka Komal (Sel.9), Premier, Arka Sampoorna, Arka Bold, and Arka Karthik.
- Plains: Arka Suvidha ,Arka Komal, Premier, (Sel.9), Arka Samrudhi, Arka Anoop and Arka Suman.
- Other: Deepali, Kankan Bushan, Dasara, and Phule Gauri.
Prepare the soil well before planting beans. Beans can grow in a wide range of soils, but loam soils are best suited for their cultivation. Beans can also tolerate alkaline and saline soils up to a pH of 8.5. The soil should be brought to a fine tilth and weed-free by giving two or three ploughings. Add organic manure or compost at the rate of 10 to 15 tonnes per hectare to enrich the soil.
Sow the seeds at the right time and depth. The best time to sow beans is at the onset of monsoon (July to August) in most parts of India. However, in some regions, beans can be sown in winter (November to December) as well. The seed rate is 8 to 10 kg per hectare for hills varieties and 6 to 8 kg per hectare for plains varieties. The seeds should be treated with Rhizobium culture or fungicide before sowing to prevent diseases and enhance nodulation. The seeds should be sown at a depth of 2.5 to 4 cm, with a spacing of 20 to 25 cm between rows and 10 to 15 cm between plants.
Provide adequate water and fertilizer to the beans crop. Beans require moderate irrigation during their growth period, especially during flowering and pod formation stages. The frequency and amount of irrigation depend on the soil type, climate, and rainfall. Generally, beans need about 4 to 6 irrigations during their life cycle. Beans also need balanced fertilization to ensure good growth and yield. A general recommendation is to apply 20 kg of nitrogen, 40 kg of phosphorus, and 20 kg of potassium per hectare at the time of sowing, followed by a top dressing of 20 kg of nitrogen per hectare after the first picking.
Control weeds, pests, and diseases in the beans crop. Weeds can compete with beans for nutrients, water, and space, reducing their yield and quality. Weeds can be controlled by one or two hoeings or weedings up to 40 days after sowing. Alternatively, herbicides such as Toke 25 (1.5 to 2 kg per hectare) can be applied pre-emergence before sowing to control weeds. Pests and diseases can also affect the beans crop, causing damage to the leaves, stems, flowers, pods, and seeds. Some common pests and diseases of beans are:
- Pests: Aphids, jassids, thrips, pod borer, leaf miner, whitefly, etc.
- Diseases: Powdery mildew, rust, anthracnose, bacterial blight, mosaic virus, etc.
Pests and diseases can be managed by adopting integrated pest management (IPM) practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, resistant varieties, biological control agents, cultural methods, mechanical methods, and chemical methods.
Crop Calendar for Beans Cultivation
The following table shows the approximate crop calendar for beans cultivation in India:
| Activity | Month |
|---|---|
| Land preparation | June-July |
| Seed treatment | June-July |
| Sowing | July-August |
| Irrigation | August-December |
| Fertilization | July-August; November-December |
| Weed control | August-September |
| Pest and disease control | August-December |
| Harvesting | November-January |
Pre-Harvest and Post-Harvest Methods for Beans
Harvest the beans at the right stage. Beans can be harvested as green pods or dry seeds, depending on the variety and purpose. Green pods are harvested when they are tender, fleshy, and snap easily. Dry seeds are harvested when the pods are fully mature and dry. The harvesting time varies from 45 to 50 days for plains varieties and 90 to 120 days for hills varieties. Harvesting can be done manually or mechanically, depending on the scale of production.
Store and process the beans properly. Beans should be stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Green pods can be stored for a few days in a refrigerator or cold storage, while dry seeds can be stored for a longer period in gunny bags or containers. Beans can be processed into various products such as canned beans, frozen beans, dehydrated beans, bean flour, bean sprouts, etc.