Effect of applying low rates of lime and manure on bean growth and yield on Ferralsols of Lake Victoria crescent agro-ecological Zone-Central Uganda

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of applying low rates of lime and chicken manure on bean (var. NABE 15) growth and yield on Ferralsols. Using split plot factorial randomized complete block design, lime (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 t ha -1 ) as the main plot and chicken manure (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 t ha -1 ) as sub plot, were replicated three times. The experiment was conducted for three rainy seasons, two seasons' on-station and one season on-farm using promising combinations from the onstation experiments. In Mukono, increased grain yield of 117% over the control was observed at 2.0 t ha -1 lime with 1.0 t ha -1 manure. Applying 1.5 t ha -1 lime with 2.0 or 3.0 t ha -1 manure resulted in a yield increase of 81.1 and 103.6% over the control respectively. Applying 0.5 t ha -1 lime or 1.0 and 2.0 t ha -1 manure alone caused minimal yields. In Masaka 0.5 t ha -1 lime with 3.0 t ha -1 manure, resulted in 95% yield increase over the control. The control and 0.5 t ha -1 lime yielded the least. All the BCRs were less than one; there was net gain in nutrients (NPK) for the subsequent crop.