Evaluation of Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Varieties in South Gondar Zone, North West Ethiopia

Farmers in Fogera plane used to produce commonly and widely some horticultural crops like onion, garlic, pepper and tomatoes at the same time under rain fed or using irrigated growing conditions. Harvesting made at the same time and farmers faced to get easily accessibility of market opportunity with good prices and they ought to sell their products in low prices. Furthermore, repeated cultivation of similar crops in a plot leads to build up of diseases and insects and loss of productivity and quality products. Introduction of new crops from different family (legume) like improved green bean varieties and testing their adaptability is crucial as an alternative crop to these provinces. The study was carried out at three plots in Fogera (on-station), Dera (Gumara kebele) and Libokemekem (Angote Kebele) districts using irrigated growing conditions in 2018/19. Two green bean varieties namely Platie and BC-4.4 were used in this performance evaluation; they are only available varieties in Ethiopia. Variety platie performed better all locations for marketable green pod yield, fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight and less percentage of unmarketable green pod yield. It has also early maturity nature as compared to BC.44. Hence, platie is prominent as a potential variety and recommended for production in South Gondar Zone especially in Fogera, Dera and Libokemkem distiricts. Therefore, seed multiplication of this variety and demonstration of its production practices to small-scale farmers is vital in these provinces.


Materials and Methods
The study was carried out at three plots in Fogera (on-station), Libokemekem (Angote kebele) and Dera (Gumara kebele) using irrigated growing conditions in 2018/19. Two green bean varieties namely Plati and BC-4.4 were used in the study. These varieties are the only available varieties in Ethiopia which were released from Melkasa Agricultural Research Center (Alemu et.al, 2018). The trial was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. Each plot consists seven rows of 2.8m length and 3m width. A distance of 0.5m between plots was used and the distance between ridge and replications were, 0.4m and 1m, respectively. The recommended seed rate of 40kg/ha and fertilizer rate of 120 kg/ha NPS and 100kg/ha Urea was used at all testing locations (Negash et.al, 2018). Application of all amounts of NPS was applied during sowing while the required amount of Urea was applied into two, the first half was at the time of sowing and second half was applied after a month from sowing. Irrigation was done within the interval of 7 days for the first three weeks and then applied in the interval of 10 days after three successive weeks. As indicated below, important parameters for data collection were considered for both varieties at three locations. Traits measured on plot basis: marketable green pod yield, unmarketable green pod yield, days to 50% emergency and days to 50% flowering Traits measured on plant basis: plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, pod length, pod width and average pod weight.

Analysis of Variance
The results of combined analysis of variances of nine traits for two green bean genotypes tested at Fogera, Dera and Libokemkem districts analyzed using randomized complete block design is presented in Table 1. Based on the combined data analysis, significant (P<0.05) different in marketable green pod yield, plant height, pod length, days to 50% emergency and days to 50% flowering were recorded between varieties over the three locations. However, single pod weight, pod width, number of primary and secondary branches showed non-significant variation between two varieties when analyzed over the three locations.
Alike marketable green pod yield and pod width were also significantly (p<0.05) affected by interaction of varieties and locations. On the other hand, the analysis of variance over the three locations indicated that the difference in plant height, single pod weight, pod length, primary and secondary branches, days to 50% emergency and flowering were revealed non-significant interaction effect between varieties and locations. Where, * and **, significant at p<0.05 and 0.01, respectively, ns= non-significant, Df= degree of freedom and CV= Coefficient of variation.

Mean of traits measured on plot basis
The average marketable green pod yield, days to 50% emergency and days to 50% flowering for the two tested varieties in three locations are presented in Table 2. Comparing the three locations, the highest mean for character marketable green pod yield (26.0t/ha) was observed from variety platie at Gumara kebele, Dera district, where as, the lowest green pod yield was recorded by variety BC-4.4 (8.5t/ha) at Libokemkem district (Angote kebele). In this study, it was generally observed that variety Platie performed higher than BC-4.4 in both locations with respect to marketable green pod yield. The results of this experiment further indicated that variety Platie matured earlier than BC-4.4. Moreover, the highest nonmarketable green pod yield (12.9%) was produced by variety Platie at Libokemkem location. On the other hand, the lowest percentage nonmarketable green pod yield (2.9%) was obtained at Gumara Kebele from variety Platie. In general, both varieties have shown higher percentage of nonmarketable green pod yield at Libokemkem presumably due to serious infestation by white fly insect during the field.

Mean of traits measured on individual plant basis
The results in table 2 showed that significant differences were noted in plant height within varieties at Gumara and Libokemkem locations; whereas the varieties showed differences in number of primary branches at Fogera and in secondary branches at Libokemkem experimental sites. Maximum plant height (57.1cm) and number of primary branches per plant (6) was recorded for variety BC-4.4, on the other hand variety Platie produced the highest number of secondary branches per plant (18). Table 2. Mean values of plant height, number of primary and secondary branches for two varieties at three locations. At three locations, the study revealed significant differences in pod length between tested varieties; whereas pod width and pod weight showed non-significant difference with in these varieties at individual as well as across locations (table 3). Variety platie gave the highest mean pod length (14), width (8.4) and weight (6.8) over the three locations. Table 3. Mean pod length, width and weight for two varieties at three locations.

Varieties
Pod

Conclusion and Recommendations
In this study, variety platie produced higher mean marketable green pod yield, pod length, pod width, pod weight and less percentage of non-marketable green pod yields across locations. It has further exhibited earlier nature of maturity as compared to variety BC-4.4. Hence, platie is performed superior and recommended for production in South Gondar Zone especially in Fogera, Dera and Libokemkem districts. Therefore, seed multiplication and demonstration of this variety is a crucial to easily dissemination of seeds with its production practices into smallscale farmers in all testing locations and other areas that have related environmentally.