Evaluation of Common Bean [Phaseolus Vulgaris (L.)] Varieties, for Yield and Yield Components

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on research field of Jinka Agricultural Center in South Omo Zone of Southern Ethiopia using thirteen improved common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris (L.)) varieties and one local check were used under rain fed condition in 2008. The objective of the study was to select the best performing common bean varieties that will increase productivity and production of common in the target areas. The treatments involved were thirteen improved varieties of common bean (Dark Red Kidney (DRK) Bean, Omo-95, Awash-1, Granscope, Roba, Argene, Chore, Ebaya, Awash Melka, Dinkinesh, SNNPR-1-20, Melka Dima and Nasir) and local check. The experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design /RCBD/ with three replications at Jinka in 2008. The result of analysis of variance showed that both of the phenological parameters studied were significantly affected by varieties. In this study, there were significant variations observed among the common bean varieties for all the yield and yield components except number of seeds per pod. Grain yield advantages of 66.11%, 60.53%, and 55.55%, were obtained from the improved varieties Dinkinesh, SNNPR-1-20, Ebaya and Awash-1, respectively over the local check in this study. The effect of varieties on grain yield was significant and the best performing varieties of common bean namely Dinkinesh (2.1478 t ha^-1) and SNNPR-1-20 (1.9511 t ha^-1) would be recommended for the specific community and its vicinity even though further study should be carried out including a number of recently released varieties  for  improved common bean production.

Keywords: Common Bean, Phenological Parameters, Yield Components, Varieties, Yield