Effects of Rhizobium inoculum and
urea foliar spray on nodulation,
yield and quality of French beans
Wanjiru Philip Kung’u
A22/0050/2009
Presented to the department of crop science and crop protection.
Supervisor
N. Musembi
Introduction



French beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris l) is
classified under the family leguminosae and
genus phaseolus.
The annual exports of fresh vegetables
contribute about 35-40% of the horticulture
foreign exchange in Kenya ( Monda et al.
2003)
French beans accounted for 29% (Kshs 4
billion) of Kenya’s earning from vegetables
exports amounting to 13.7 billion in 2011.
French beans production is now estimated
at 12tonnes. (Business daily)
Introduction cont’
Rhizobium inoculants are used as an
economical input to increase productivity.
 Superior rhizobium strains have been
identified and commercialized by the
University of Nairobi and commercial
companies, respectively.
 However, use of base fertilizers have been
found to depress nodulation in most legume
species ( Otieno et al. 2007)
 Nitrogen is the most limiting factor in the
soil due to intensification of agriculture and
overuse of nitrogenous fertilizers.

Objectives
Main objective
 To develop a strategy that will reduce the
cost of production, promote growth,
nodulation and improve yield and quality
of french beans.
Specific objectives
To determine the effect of rhizobia
inoculation on growth , nodulation and
yield of French beans.
 To determine the effect of urea foliar feed
on growth, nodulation and yield of French
beans.
 To determine the interaction effects of
the combined rhizobium inoculum and
urea foliar spray, on nodulation, growth
and yield of French beans.

Problem statement
Use of base fertilizers depress nodulation
in common beans (Otieno et al. 2007)
 Use of N fertilizers to increase yields is
expensive and unaffordable to most small
scale farmers.

Justification
Use of Rhizobium inoculum is cheaper
compared to use of inorganic base
fertilizers.
 Adequate inoculation is a well known
agronomic procedure that can ensure
adequate supply of nitrogen to legumes. It
has reported that rhizobium can fix 50300kg/Ha of Nitrogen.

Materials
French beans seeds for planting
 Rhizobium inoculum.
 Urea to be used as foliar feed
 Pesticides for the control of bean flies,
white flies and aphids. Confidor and
bostax.
 Labor
 Hosepipe and water for irrigation

Methodology
Experiment conducted at upper Kabete field station.
 The experiment will be laid in a randomized complete block
design with three replicates
Treatments;
1.
negative control,
2.
Rhizobium inoculum solo
3.
urea solo
4.
Rhizobium inoculum & urea.
 Planting to be done at a spacing of 30cm× 10cm in plots of
1m×1m.
 Urea foliar spray applied two weeks after germination and
two weeks after first application at a rate of 100kgs/ha.
 Inoculum applied during planting.

Data collection
The number of nodules will be counted for
three plants selected randomly at each plot
at the end of the experiment and the weight
recorded.
 Yield will be measured per plant.
 Number of pods will be counted.
 The girth and stem length will be measured
to show the rate of growth
 Quality will be determined by pod
straightness, length and those not affected by
diseases

Data analysis
Analysis of variance will be performed
 Separation of means will be done using
protected LSD at p=0.05

Work plan
January
February
March
April
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Time
Activity
Proposal
writing
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Planting
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Data collection
& field
experimentatio
n
Harvesting
Report writing
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