Determining Optimal Dose of Chemical Fertilizer on Biofortified Bean in Sud-Kivu Highlands

Abstract

<p>Rational application of chemical fertilizer increases crop yield of biofortified bean. This study aimed at determining the optimal dose of chemical fertilizer to apply on two biofortified bean varieties used in the community in order to maximize their yield. Following a split-plot design, a field experiment was carried out on CODMLB001 and HM21-7 varieties, in Kashusha (Kabare territory) in Sud-Kivu Highlands, after a strategic application of increasing doses of chemical fertilizer NPK 17-17-17 (D<sub>0</sub>: Control; D<sub>1</sub>: 50 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>; D<sub>2</sub>: 75 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>; D<sub>3</sub>: 100 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>; D<sub>4</sub>: 125 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> and D<sub>5</sub>: 150 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>). The said doses were applied on the sowing day in a parallel gutter at 5cm from the sowing line. The germination rate, the number of days at both the flowering stage and the stage of physiological maturity, as well as the number of harvested crops and beans per plant, number of beans per pod, weight per 1000 grains and yield were observed. Positive and negative interaction between different increasing doses of chemical fertilizers regarding the two varieties were observed. This strategic application allows increased performance according to considered varieties and doses. For instance, the HM21-7 variety gave the best performance with the D<sub>5</sub> dose, while the CODMLB001 variety did better under <em>D<sub>2</sub></em>.</p>

Optimal fertiliser dose and nutrients allocation in local and biofortified bean varieties grown on ferralsols in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

“…Thus, the contribution of chemical fertilizers is a key factor in the intensification of agriculture in developing countries and, in the Kivu region in particular. Hence, the positive correlations recorded between the yield and the quantity of chemical fertilizers used (Casinga et al, 2017;Useni et al, 2014). In south-Kivu, the national statistics (SNSA, 2015) show the yield of the bean around 500 kg ha −1 in the farmer field without fertilizer.…”

“…These results support those previously found by (Casinga et al, 2015;Mushagalusa et al, 2016) in field experiments conducted in weather conditions similar to those of the present study. In Casinga et al (2017) for example, while testing five doses of NPK, they found significant influences of doses on growth and yield of two grown biofortified varieties. They also observed that the variety HM21-7 was the most productive while fertiliser dose of 150 kg ha −1 was the optimal fertiliser dose for beans, with a grain yield of 1250 kg ha −1 .…”