Cultivation of French Bean (Kidney Bean) in India ; A Full Information Guide
Cultivation of French Bean (Kidney Bean) in India: A Full Information Guide
The nutritive value of French beans in 100 g of the edible portion is given below.
NUTRIENT | Values | Nutrients | Values |
Moisture | 91.4 gms | Vitamin A | 221 IU |
Protein | 1.7 gms | Riboflavin | 0.06 mg |
Fat | 0.1 gms | Vitamin C | 14 mg |
Fiber | 1.8 gms | Calcium | 13.2 mg |
carbohydrate | 4.5 gms | Magnesium | 50 mg |
Minerals | 0.5 gms | Iron | 20 mg |
Phosphorous | 28.00 mg | Potassium | 0.06 mg |
Sdium | 4.3 gms | Sulpher | 120 mg |
Calories | 26 | Thiamine | 37 mg |
Copper | 0.21 mg | Nicotinic Acid | 0.08 mg |
French beans can be grown practically in almost all types of soil, from light sandy soil to heavy clay soil. The optimum soil pH for getting good crops is 5.3 to 6.0. French beans can not withstand high acidic and alkaline soils. The land is prepared thoroughly by 5-6 ploughings followed by planking
Kidney bean is a day-neutral crop. It is sensitive to high temperatures and frost. A soil temperature of approximately 32.2°C (90°F) is essential for maximum vegetative growth.
There are numerous varieties of French beans, and they can be classified according to their habit. French beans are divided into bush and pole beans.
Contender, Pusa Parbati, Giant stringless. Tendergreen, Arka Komal, Jampa, Bountiful, Herbster, Prider, Top crop, Sel-2, Sel-3, Sel-9, IIHR 434, Pant Anupma, etc.
Sowing of Seed for French Bean Cultivation
(a) Time of sowing. The seed is sown in June, July, and January in plains and from March to the beginning of May in the hills.
(b) Seed rate. The seed rate is 10-12 kg per acre for dwarf beans and 6-8 kg per acre for pole beans
(c) Method of sowing. The seeds may be sown by dibbling, drilling, and broadcasting at a depth of 2.0 to 3.0 cm. For bush or dwarf beans, the Row-Row spacing of 45 x 50 cm and plant-plant 10 cm gave the highest yield. The pole-type beans should be sown at 60 cm. x 10-12 cm The seeds should be inoculated with rhizobial culture before sowing.
Apply the 6-8 tons FYM and 18 kg of nitrogen, 24 kg of phosphorus, and 24 kg of potassium per acre to increase the yield of beans.
Pole-type cultivars of French beans grow well on a support made of cane frames. They are also supported by erecting wooden poles connected with strings.
Shallow cultivation is given to keep the crop free from weeds. Herbicides such as dinitromaterials at 2-3 kg per acre and the sodium salt of pentachlorophenol at 6 kg per acre as pre-emergence treatment have been sound effects in controlling the weeds.
The soil must have sufficient moisture. Irrigation should be given just before blooming, during flowering, and during the pod development stage.
The green pods become ready for harvest after 45 to 75 days of sowing, according to the variety, and they should be picked as and when they are ready. The dry beans are harvested when a large percentage of pods are fully ripe and most of the remainder have turned yellow. Harvesting should be started before the lower pods dry enough to shed
The yield of green pods in the bush varieties may vary from 1200 to 1600 kg and in the pole varieties from 3000 to 4000 kg per acre. The yield of dry beans or bean seeds varies from 500 to 700 kg per acre.