EFFECT OF SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT AND VARIETY ON PERFORMANCE OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L) IN WESTERN KENYA

Abstract

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is one of the most important food security pulse crops grown in Kenya. Its production is limited by a number of agronomic practices including spatial crop arrangement and crop cultivar. A study was conducted between March to June 2016 at Mabanga ATC in Bungoma and University of Eldoret in Uasin Gishu Counties to determine the suitable field spatial arrangement and variety for optimum bean yield. Three bean varieties (Canadian Wonder, KAT B1 and Rose Coco) were studied under the following spatial arrangement: 60 cm x 15 cm, 45 cm x 20 cm, 36 cm x 25 cm and 30 cm x 30 cm. In both sites, RCBDesign was used to conduct the experiment. This was replicated 3 times. Data was collected on plant height, number of flowers per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 - seed weight and seed yield. Data was subjected to ANOVA in GENSTAT version software and means separated by Tukey’s HSD at p ≤0.05. The results indicated significant differences due to spatial arrangement on plant height in Mabanga site only. There were significant differences on number of pods per, number of seeds per pod, 1000 seed yield and seed weight (kg/ha) in both sites. On the other hand, variety showed significant difference on 1000 seed weight in both sites. Number of pods per plant, seed weight (kg/ha) were significantly affected by variety at Mabanga site only. It is concluded that the spatial arrangement of 30 cm x 30 or 36 cm x 25 cm showed good performance in terms of seed yield/hectare in Mabanga, while a spatial arrangement of 36 cm x 25 cm or 45 cm x 20 cm performed better in terms of seed yield/hectare at University of Eldoret. Varieties Rose Coco and KAT B1 proved superior in terms of seed yield/hectare in both sites. In this study spatial arrangement of 30 cm x 30 cm or 36 cm x 25 cm is therefore recommended for farmers within Bungoma County, while 36 cm x 25 cm and 45 cm x 20 cm recommended for farmers within Uasin Gishu with KAT B1 and Rose coco being the suitable varieties at both sites.