GROWTH, YIELD AND POST HARVEST RESPONSE PATTERN OF GREEN BEANS (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.) TO ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS IN NSUKKA, SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Four field experiments were carried out during the late and early season at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.  A laboratory experiment was also conducted at Simuch Scientifics Laboratory, Nsukka. The experiments evaluated the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield parameters as well as the biochemical composition of green beans and residual effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers using radish as a test crop. Experiment 1 was laid out as a 2×5 factorial (2 seasons- Early and late and 5 manure levels) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in the early and late season. The poultry manure applied was at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and

10t/ha. Experiment 2 was laid out as a 2×5 factorial (2 seasons- Early and late and 5 manure levels) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in the early and late season using pig manure. The pig manure was applied at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10tons/ ha, treatment rates respectively. Experiment 3 was laid out as experiment 1 and 2, also a 2×5 factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in the early and late season. The combined manure applied was at 0, 2.5t/ha of poultry manure+ 50kg/ha NPK,

2.5t/ha of pig manure+ 50kg/ha NPK, 50kg/ha NPK and 100kg/ha NPK, respectively. Data collected included: Seedling emergence, plant height, number of leaves, plant biomass at flowering (Fresh and dry weight), plant biomass at full bloom podding (fresh and dry weight), number of pods, weight of pods and harvest index. The report of soil analysis indicated that the soil in the experimental area was low in N resulting in low green beans yield. However, the result showed that the combined manure in the late season gave the highest seedling emergence with 94.7% followed by the pig manure in the early season with 93.6% both at 8 days after planting, while green beans planted with 5t/ha of poultry manure significantly (p<0.05) produced

higher growth and yields in the late and early season, respectively as compared with the pig and combined manure.  The control plots (0t/ha) had the least effect on any of the parameters both at the early and late season. Experiment 4 was the biochemical analysis of the green beans pods. A total of 90 samples were selected and analyzed. The result showed no significant (p>0.05) differences among the treatment rates but nitrogen, phosphorus, protein and carbohydrate were higher in the poultry manure experiment while the ash content was higher in the pig manure experiment. Fat and flavonoids increased in percent as the manure level increased. Experiment 5 was to evaluate the residual effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers previously applied on green beans using radish as a test crop. The result showed that although there was no significant difference on the seedling emergence percent and yield from harvest parameters taken for the poultry and pig manure, the combined manure treatment was significant(p<0.05), producing a higher number of roots, whole plant biomass and leaf weight. The post harvest experiment conducted showed that radish planted with poultry manure showed a lesser percent weight loss in

perforated polythene bags and stored for a longer period compared to the other fertilizers used. From the results of the experiments, it can be concluded that green beans requires adequate fertilization and for its production, 5t/ha of poultry manure is recommended due to its high growth and yield responses under good soil and fertility management practices for vegetable farmers in Nsukka agro-ecology as compared to the other treatment rates.

INTRODUCTION

Phaseolus vulgaris L., commonly known as green beans, is an herbaceous annual plant belonging to the family Fabaceae that originated from Central and South America. It is cultivated in many parts of the world for its beans, which can be harvested and eaten when immature, still in the edible pod. Green beans is high in dietary fibers, carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals (Brigide et al., 2014), and is mostly served fresh in salads but is more often prepared as a cooked vegetable in soups and sauces. Green beans are often sold fresh, canned or frozen. Dried beans from this species are harvested when the pods have fully matured and dried (Courteau, 2012).

The common dry bean or Phaseolus vulgaris is one of the most important food legumes for direct consumption in the world. Among major food crops, it has one of the highest levels of variation  in  its  growth  habit,  seed  characteristics  (size,  shape,  and  color),  maturity,  and adaptation.  It  also  has  tremendous  variability  of  more  than  40,000  varieties.  Germplasm collection in beans compares well with other important commodities on a worldwide basis. Phaseolus vulgaris is produced in a range of cropping systems and environments in regions as diverse as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, China, Europe, the United States, and Canada. The leading  bean  producer  and  consumer is  Latin  America,  where beans  are a traditional, significant  food, especially  in  Brazil,  Mexico, the Andean  Zone,  Central  America,  and  the Caribbean (Jones, 1999).

For the production of these tropical legume vegetables, some quantities of nutrients are needed for their growth and development otherwise physiological deficiency symptoms can occur (Takahashi, 1981). Over the years inorganic fertilizers have been widely used worldwide to support and optimize the growth of these vegetables. However, the use of organic fertilizer has gained  more  importance  globally  in  the  last  few  decades,  due  to  efforts  made  for  the conservation  of  agriculture.  Organic  fertilizers  have  been  shown  to  help  preserve  natural resources and reduce degradation of ecosystem (Mader et al., 2002, Francis and Daniel, 2004). As a result, organic agriculture has become an alternative technology which encourages the use of natural organic compounds such as plant residues, manure, mulch and compost (Shannon et al., 2002). Application of these natural organic compounds have been shown to improve the soil nutritional state and as well as influencing other soil properties, such as aeration, water holding capacity and particles aggregation (Pagliai et al., 2004), which contribute for better crop production, even with the use of little or without fertilizer application.

Most vegetable producers use inorganic fertilizers for better production due to its easy and rapid availability to plants (Thy and Buntha, 2005). However the enduring use of synthetic fertilizers can eventually damage the soil chemical, physical and biological properties (Albiach et al.,

2000). Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, provide beneficial effects to the soil and also increase availability of nutrients, which helps to maintain the quality and yield of crops and are less expensive than inorganic fertilizers (Thy and Buntha, 2005). Organic fertilizers are not only the  source  of  organic  matter  and  nutrient,  but  also  boost  microbial  population,  physical, biological and chemical properties of the soil (Albiach et al., 2000). It has also been reported that application  of  compost  in  soil  decrease  disease  incidence  (root  rot  of  beans)  and  produce vigorous plants (Cespedes et al., 2006). Although organic crop production is not a new idea, there is insufficient information regarding the organic cultivation of green beans in Nigeria.

Green bean is an important crop especially in the area where it thrives well mostly in Asia and other neighboring countries. In Nigeria, it thrives mostly in the northern part where it is produced in Jos, Kaduna and Bauchi states and has consequently been zoned as a northern crop. (Orakpo,

2010). The crop is so important that its production and yield ought to be enhanced, studied and should receive considerable attention,  this can only be done when the necessary factors of production are provided sufficiently on the best and enhanced way of green beans production and storage.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The broad objective of this study was to evaluate the growth, yield and post harvest response pattern of green beans to organic and inorganic fertilizers in Nsukka, South Eastern Nigeria.

The specific objectives in this study were to:

1.    evaluate the growth and yield responses of green beans to organic manure and inorganic fertilizers;

2.   evaluate the biochemical composition of green beans pods; and

3.   evaluate the residual effect of organic manure and inorganic fertilizers using radish as a test crop.

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