HORT 281 :: Lecture 20 :: ORIGIN, AREA, PRODUCTION, VARIETIES, PACKAGE OF PRACTICES FOR HYACINTH BEAN

Origin, area, production, varieties, package of practices for HYACINTH BEAN
(Syn: Indian bean) Lablab purpureus L.
(Syn: Dolichos lablab, D. purpureus) (2n = 22, 24)
(Hindi: Sem)

Hyacinth bean, also known as field bean or dolichos bean, is grown throughout tropical regions of Asia, Africa and America.  In India, it is grown as a field crop in Tamil Nadu., Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.  In Kerala, the photo sensitive pole types are grown in homesteads by trailing to bower for its tender fruits which are used as cooked vegetable.  Dry beans are also sued in various vegetable preparations; 100 g of green pods contain 6.7 g carbohydrates, 3.8g carbohydrates, 3.8 proteins, 1.8 g fibre, 210 mg calcium, 68.0 mg phosphorus, 1.7 mg iron etc.
Origin, taxonomy and botany
Hyacinth bean originated in India.  Two cultivated type’s viz., Lablab purpureosu var. typicus and L. purpureus var. lignosus were reported by Sivasankar et al. (1971).  Former is vegetable type cultivated for its soft and edible pods and latter is the field bean cultivated for dry seeds as pulse.  Both varieties are cross compatible.
L. purpureus var typicus                                    L. purpureus var lignosus

 

 

 

 

           

Hyacinth bean is a perennial herbaceous plant often grown as an annual.  Pole types are photosensitive.  Leaves are alternate and trifoliate.  Flowers are borne in axillary racemes and are typically papilionaceous and are self-pollinated.
Flowering takes place under short day periods irrespective of planting time.  Anthesis occurs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  (Pokle and Deshmukh, 1971).  Anther dehiscence is from 5.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.  Stigma is receptive on the day of anthesis.
Varieties
A brief description of the improved varieties is given :

Cultivation practices
Prepare land to fine tilth, and sow seeds during July-August with onset of monsoon.  In South and Central India, it is grown as a mixed crop with ragi and sorghum.  Seeds are dibbled at a spacing of 1.0 m in between ragi or sorghum.  After harvest of ear heads of ragi of sorghum, dolichos bean plants are allowed to twine and spread on their stalk.  Plants start flowering and fruiting by November-December and continue up to late spring.  Later vines are cut along with sorghum straw and given to cattle as a nutritious feed.  As a pure crop, dolichos bean is sown at a spacing of 1.0 x 0.75 m @ 3-4 seeds / hill and later thinning is done retaining only 2 plants.  Seed rate for pure crop is 50-60 kg/ha.
Pole types are usually sown in backyards of homesteads.  Take pits of 45-60 cm diameter during June-July and full with green leaves and wet cow dung.  Allow manure to decompose properly for 2-3 weeks.  Cover pits with top soil and sow 3-4 seeds in a pit.  Erect a bower with bamboo poles over an area of 4.0 x 4.0 m keeping pit at the centre.  Allow plants to climb on bower by erecting one or two long twigs in pits.  Apply organic manure around plants and earth up with laterite or loan soil.  After cessation of rains, make a circular basin 30-35 cm away from base of plants for irrigation.  Provide light irrigation daily in basin.  Plants start yielding after 3 months once short days start.  Thereafter daily watering and fortnightly application of organic manure are essential for protracted flowering and harvest of stringless pods over a long period.
Harvesting and yield
            In bush varieties harvesting starts 50-60 days after sowing. In pole types flowering starts around three months after sowing during short days.  Harvesting starts from November – December and extends up to middle of March in Kerala.  Pods are harvested at tender stage before it becomes fibrous.  Green pod yield varies from 5 to 8 t/ha.
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, pod borer and leaf eating caterpillar are the major pests affecting dolichos bean.  Among the diseases, Cercospora leaf spot and Rhizoctoni wilt are most serious.
Lab Lab or Dolichos bean
Application of fertilizers
(a) Basal dressing for bush type

 
(b) For pandal type
Apply 10 kg FYM per pit (20 t/ha) 100 g of NPK 6:12:12 mixture as basal and 10 g N per pit after 30 days.  Apply 2 kg each Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria per ha at the time of sowing.
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1. _________types of lablab bean or hyacinth beans are photoinsensitive in nature.
a. Pole types   b. Bush types  c. Both a & b   d. None
2. ___________variety of lablab bean bears pods in bunches.
a. CO 1           b. CO 2           c. Pusa early prolific   d. CO 10
3. The centre of origin for lablab bean is----------------------.
a. China           b. India            c. Mexico        d. Europe
4. Chromosome number of lablab bean is
a. 22                b. 24                c. Both             d. None
5. Lablab yellow mosaic is transmitted by-------------------.
a. Aphids         b. Whitefly       c. Jassids        d. Mites

 

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