A Comparative study on the effects of different planting densities and varieties on the growth and yield of sugar beans (phaseolus vulgaris)
- Author
- Labana, R.S.
- Title
- A Comparative study on the effects of different planting densities and varieties on the growth and yield of sugar beans (phaseolus vulgaris)
- Abstract
- Sugar beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) is an economically significant seed crop. It can naturally fix nitrogen into the soil. However, there is lack of complete research and appreciation on the best planting density of sugar beans. With the objective of studying the effects of different planting densities on growth and yield characteristics, a research was carried out at Bindura University of Science Education farm. Two sugar beans varieties (Gloria and NUA45) and three plant spacing distances (5cm × 30cm, 10cm × 35cm and 15cm×40cm) corresponding respectively to three planting densities (120, 60 and 26 plants/ 2m²) were evaluated for six quantitative traits in a randomized complete block design in a two by three factorial with three replicates. Measurements were taken on plant stem height, chlorophyll content, leaf area determination, and number of pods per plant, dry mass determination and yield. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was done using Genstat Seventeenth Edition. Whenever the treatment was significant, Fisher`s least significance difference (LSD) test was used for mean separation at P<0.05. Density (26 plants/2m²) had a significant effect P<0.05 on Gloria variety with the highest height of (68.9cm). There was an interaction between planting densities and variety on chlorophyll content with density (26 plants/2m²) having the highest chlorophyll content of 13,4 and 12,6 respectively to both varieties (Gloria and NUA45). On yield there was a greater significant effect P<0.05 between the three planting densities (120, 60 and 26 plants/ 2m²). Density (120 plants/ 2m²) had the highest yield of 1.283kgs followed by density (60 plants/ 2m²) with 1.120kgs and density (26 plants/2m²) with the least yield of 0.735kgs. In comparison of the different planting densities on different varieties from the reports of the study, it can be concluded that spacing of (5cm ×30cm) on Gloria among the tested varieties showed potential growth and greatest yield under ideal conditions. Other researchers can also test for the same parameters to see if this can also be true in other agro-ecological regions in Zimbabwe.
- Date
- OCTOBER 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- sugar beans
- planting densities and varieties
- Supervisor
-
Mr.K.Mutsengi
- Item sets
- Department of Crop Sciences
