EFFECT OF NAPHTHALENE ACETIC ACID, STAKING, NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION ON SEED QUALITY OF THE CLIMBING BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Abstract

Seed quality plays an important role in seedling emergence, plant stand establishment and yield potential. Therefore, the use of good quality seeds is essential to obtain an optimum plant population, growth vigour, and optimal yield per unit area. Conditions prevailing during seed formation can affect the quality of seed produced and ultimately crop yield. Agronomic practices may affect the seed quality. Therefore, there is need to test the effect of different agronomic practices on quality of seed. Field experiments were conducted at Kaguru Farmers Training Centre, Kenya, to determine the effect of Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA), staking, and application of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on seed quality of the climbing bean. The experiment was laid out in Randomised Complete Block Design, with three factors, i.e. NAA concentrations (0, 0.2 and 0.4 mlL^-1), staking (no staking, staking with stakes and maize plants as support), and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) [0, 200, 250 and 300 Kg DAPha^-1] which supplied N and P. After harvesting the climbing bean laboratory analysis was done and data on seed nitrogen, phosphorus and protein content determined. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS version 9.4 and significant means separated using LSD at α= 0.05. The finding of the study revealed a significant (p < 0.05) treatment effect on phosphorus and protein content of the seeds of climbing bean. The application of 0.4 mlL^-1 NAA and 300 Kg DAPha^-1, and staking with stakes resulted in the highest phosphorus (0.6240 %) content of the harvested seed. The application of 0.4 mlL^-1 NAA and 300 Kg DAPha^-1, and use of maize plants as support resulted in the highest seed protein content (30.54 %) of the climbing bean. The findings of the study demonstrated that application of NAA, staking with stakes, N and P had an apparent effect on seed P, N and crude protein.