Response of three common bean (phaseolus vulgaris l.) varieties to moisture stress at different levels of phosphorus.
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Date
2008
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
In this study, two experiments were conducted, one (field experiment) at the Horticultural Unit of the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) located at 6° 5’ S 37° 39’ E with an elevation of 524 m a.s.l. and the other (pot experiment) was conducted at the screen house of the Department of Crop Science and Production.The main objective was to study the response of the three common bean varieties i.e. SUA 90, Kablanketi and Canadian wonder, to the interaction of the two factors; moisture stress and different levels of phosphorus fertilizer. The source of phosphorus used was Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) and the source of water used for irrigation was tap water for the pot experiment and rain for the field experiment.Three levels of phosphorus used were 0 kgP/ha, 30 kgP/ha and 60 kgP/ha. The three moisture regimes applied were less than 21 cb, between 21 and 50 cb and between 51 and 60 cb of moisture tension in the soil. In Canadian wonder total plant biomass significantly increased with increasing P. Root biomass increased with increasing P application in SUA 90. From this study it was concluded that Canadian wonder is the most vigorous and tolerant variety of the three, it has a vigorous growth which enables it to tolerate low P and moisture stress. It was hence recommended that, common bean breeders should use this variety in breeding for tolerance to moisture stress and low P.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Bean Production, Botany, Plant biomass, Grain yield