Evaluation of rajmash (Phaseo/us vUlgaris L.) genotypes in mid-altitudes of North-Western Himalayas

Abstract

In north-western Himalayas, rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is generally grown as kharif crop. For Uttaranchal hills, the last rajmash variety 'VL Rajma 63' was released in 1978, and is the only option with the farmers other than local varieties. Farmers generally grow local landraces which are indeterminate type but determinate ones are also available. During 2002-03, Uttaranchal produced 6,382 metric ton of rajmash from an area of 4, 11 8 ha with productivity of 8.92 q/ha. Uttaranchal is a pulse deficit state as it produces only 0.31 lakh tonnes of pulses which is only 11.69 per cent of its total requirement of 2.65 lakh tonnes [1]. Increase in pulse productivity is one option to bridge the production gap in pulses. The climatic conditions vary greatly over years, thus the understanding of genetic parameters should be studied over years. The present investigation was undertaken to understand the contribution of various characters to yield in rajmash under mid-altitudes of north-west Himalayas over years.