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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2018

Response of Common Bean Genotypes Grown in Soil with Normal or Limited Moisture, with Special Reference to the Nutrient Phosphorus

Namugwanya, Margaret; Tenywa, John Stephen; Otabbong, Erasmus

Abstract

Drought and phosphorus deficiency in the soil are the major production limitations of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study measured the yield responses of low phosphorus-tolerant common beans to drought stress. A field experiment was conducted under two drought conditions codenamed, non-drought-stress (NDS) and drought-stress (DS). The former was located at Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MUZARDI) in Mukono District, characterised by rainfall of more than 400 mm season(-1). The latter was situated at Wabinyonyi in Nakasongola District, characterised by less than 300 mm season(-1); both in central Uganda. Treatments included the two study conditions (NDS and DS); and four test bean genotypes, AFR703-1, AFR 708, JESCA, and MCM 2001, against a local check, K131. A water deficit of 156 mm season(-1) was observed in the DS site causing a drought intensity index (DII) of 40%. That pattern contrasted considerably in the NDS site where the actual rainfall did not significantly (p > 0.05) vary from the required water by the bean plant. Whereas genotypes AFR703-1 and AFR708 out-yielded the local check in NDS by 213 and 681 kg ha(-1), respectively; their grain yield harvested was comparable to the control yield in DS. When grown under DS, low P-tolerant beans, especially the AFR703-1 and AFR708, survived drought stress through faster development by reducing the number of days to flower, reach physiological maturity and develop seeds. AFR703-1 and AFR708 sufficiently withstand drought stress, and are therefore recommended for inclusion in cropping systems that are characteristically constrained by the combined soils' P deficiency and/or drought.

Keywords

drought stress; Phaseolus vulgaris; Uganda

Published in

Agronomy
2018, Volume: 8, number: 8, article number: 132
Publisher: MDPI

    Sustainable Development Goals

    SDG2 Zero hunger

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Soil Science

    Publication Identifiers

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8080132

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96461