Dual-Purpose Cultivation as an Agro-Economic Approach for Farmers. A Case Study of Beans

Different types of bean cultivars are cultivated by farmers worldwide, but some of these cultivars are capable of dual-purpose cultivation with the aim of simultaneously harvesting dry grains and green pods in one growing season. So, in order to assess the possibility of dual-purpose cultivation of beans, determine the yield of green pods, dry grain yield, product value and Marginal Gross Benefit, 9 lines were evaluated in a split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2016 and 2017 in the seed and plant improvement institute, Karaj, Iran. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the lines for the studied traits. In dual-purpose cultivation of beans, line KS940144 had the highest yield (6983 kg ha-1) and value (2444 US$) of green pods. Line KS920159 had the highest yield (2068 kg ha-1) and value (2440 US$) of dry grains. In view point of the value of the product (green pods and dry grains), although the Dorsa cultivar showed the highest yield and value than dual-purpose cultivation of lines, but, because of climate change and high production risk for cultivating single-purpose cultivars, the dual-purpose cultivation of some of selected lines, for example KS940144 and KS10073 lines, could be have an appropriate income and sustainability for farmers.