Onsite, Bean Variety and Fertilization Regime on Bean Yields in Kenya

Low yields of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) in developing countries of the Sub Saharan Africa relate to suite of factors including soil fertility at the planting sites, bean varieties and fertilization. Management strategies should aim at establishing a combination of these factors that would ultimately result in improved common bean yields. In this study, a field experiment was conducted in Kenya during the long rainy season to establish the effects of planting sites, bean varieties and fertilization on bean yield. The experiments consisted of four sites (Nandi, Baraton, KALRO and Trans-Nzoia), seven bean varieties (Chelalang, Ciankui, Tasha, GLPX92, Rose Coco (GLP2), KK8 and Wairimu [GLP 585]) and two fertilization regime (fertilization and no fertilization) in a factorial experiment replicated four times. On-site and farmers field, Wairimu had the highest yield followed by KK8 while the lowest yield was variety GLPX92. Application of fertilizer improved the bean yield significant over and above yield without fertilizers under both on-station and farmers conditions. Results showed that the grain yields were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by site, bean variety and fertilization. Results demonstrated that some bean varieties responded more to fertilizer application and with good agronomic management, which they are likely to contribute to food security in the region.