Effects of Sowing Date and Plant Population on Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Growth and Pod Yield in Khartoum State

Abstract

This study was conducted to find an optimum sowing date and plant population for bean cultivars suitable for export in Khartoum State. A field experiment was conducted in winter in 2011-2012, at the College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan. Two sowing datesS₁ and S₂ (7^th and 26^th of November, respectively) and six plant populations obtained by three plant spacing (10, 15 and20cm plant spacing) and two planting densities (2 and 3 plants/hill) on 70cm ridges were tested in completely randomized block design in four replications. The results showed that early sowing date (S₁) had positive effects on both growth and pod yield and quality compared to late sowing (S₂), irrespective of plant population. Increasing of plant population increased plant height but decreased pod yield. The highest pod yield (105.9 g) was obtained at early sowing (S₁) by 2plants/hill and 20cm plant spacing which was almost double that (56.3 g) obtained at the same plant population at late sowing (S₂). Pod yield /ha was higher at S₁ at all plant population than S₂. However, the highest pod yield/ha was obtained at S₁ by the highest plant population (3plant/ hill at 10cm spacing) and the lowest at S₂ by the lowest plant population (2plants/hill at 20cm spacing). Moreover, all pod quality parameters were positively affected by planting density irrespective of plant spacing. It could be concluded that for optimum green pod yield and quality of beans for export it should be sown as early as the first week of November at 2 plant/hill and 10 cm or 3 plants/hill at 15cm plant spacing on 70cm ridges in Khartoum State and areas of similar conditions.