Evaluation of different common bean (phaseolus vulgaris l.) landraces for biological nitrogen fixation traits and yield

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Date

2014

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

Bean production in Tanzania barely meets half of the domestic demand because of low yield attributed to low fertility, Nitrogen being the most common deficient. While use of rhizobia inoculants can substantially increase bean yields, less than 1% of the farming population is aware of inoculants. The objectives of this study were, to isolate and evaluate indigenous rhizobia population from nine bean landraces, to test their efficacy compared to commercial rhizobia inoculants in relation to nodulation and yield of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Four experiments were conducted during 2011/12 in a screen house at SUA. Two experiment consisted Leonard jar and the other two were pot experiments in which the soil used were either sterilized or unsterilized. The landraces collected were Kasuka Nywele, Msafiri and Manjano from Mbeya, Nyayo, Soya and Kachumbaa from Arusha and Kabungu, Nyamungu and Karanga from Morogoro. Two sets of Leonard jars were arranged in completely randomized block design replicated three times and the other two pot experiments were arranged in split split plot design. Inoculants in pot experiments used were Nitro-SUA, Underwood Biostacked as commercial and Native. Landrace were the main plot, soil sterilization as a sub plot and inoculants as sub sub plot replicated three times. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using GENSTAT soft ware. Significance differences in N2 fixation were observed among all landraces in all experiments, landraces which showed more promise included Nyayo, Nyamungu, Msafiri and Kabungu. Results also indicate that native rhizobia had comparable symbiotic effectiveness to commercial inoculants in unsterilized soils and vice versa in sterilized soils conditions though soil sterilization was not significant. This study recommend further studies to be conducted in field for landraces which were promising to nodulation to explore more of their effectiveness.

Description

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of science in crop science

Keywords

Common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris l., Landraces, Biological nitrogen, Fixation traits, Yield, Bean production

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