Journal of Agronomy, 2006; 5 (4): 583-588
Two experiments were conducted, one in 1997 during the long rain season (April-July) and another in 2004 during dry season (September - December) at Sokoine University of Agriculture plots, Morogoro, Tanzania to evaluate the effect of seedbed types on crop performance of beans of different growth types. Treatments were laid out in a split plot arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. In 1997, the main plots consisted of four common bean cultivars namely SUA 90, Canadian wonder, Kablanketi and Glory. Three seedbed types constituted the sub-plots namely ridge cultivation, flat cultivation and ngolo cultivation. In 2004, the main plots consisted of two bean cultivars namely SUA 90 and Kablanketi. Four seedbed types constituted the sub-plots viz., ridge cultivation, flat cultivation, ngolo cultivation and fipa mound seedbed. The data recorded included number of harvested plants m-2, number of branches plant-1, pods plant-1, pod length, seeds pod-1, grain yield plant-1, yield ha-1 and 100 seed weight. Results showed that bean cultivars differed in yield components and determinate cultivars showed consistently higher seed yield per plant while indeterminate showed consistely higher 100 seed weight. Ridge seedbed showed superiority on number of pods per plant, pod length and yield per plant only during dry season. However, flat seedbeds showed consistently good performance for many variables investigated. Increased grain yield in flat seedbeds, therefore, at both cropping seasons was reflected in increased production of pods per plant, longer pods and yield per plant. Therefore, flat seedbed type is recommended for bean production in the studied location.