1. Wanjiru Philip Kung’u A22/0050/2009 Presented to the department of crop science and crop protection. Supervisor N. Musembi Effects of Rhizobium inoculum and urea foliar spray on nodulation, yield and quality of French beans

2. Introduction French beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris l) is classified under the family leguminosae and genus phaseolus. The annual exports of fresh vegetables contribute about 35-40% of the horticulture foreign exchange in Kenya ( Monda et al. 2003) French beans accounted for 29% (Kshs 4 billion) of Kenya’s earning from vegetables exports amounting to 13.7 billion in 2011. French beans production is now estimated at 12tonnes. (Business daily)

3. Introduction cont’ Rhizobium inoculants are used as an economical input to increase productivity. Superior rhizobium strains have been identified and commercialized by the University of Nairobi and commercial companies, respectively. However, use of base fertilizers have been found to depress nodulation in most legume species ( Otieno et al. 2007) Nitrogen is the most limiting factor in the soil due to intensification of agriculture and overuse of nitrogenous fertilizers.

4. Objectives Main objective To develop a strategy that will reduce the cost of production, promote growth, nodulation and improve yield and quality of french beans.

5. Specific objectives To determine the effect of rhizobia inoculation on growth, nodulation and yield of French beans. To determine the effect of urea foliar feed on growth, nodulation and yield of French beans. To determine the interaction effects of the combined rhizobium inoculum and urea foliar spray, on nodulation, growth and yield of French beans.

6. Problem statement Use of base fertilizers depress nodulation in common beans (Otieno et al. 2007) Use of N fertilizers to increase yields is expensive and unaffordable to most small scale farmers.

7. Justification Use of Rhizobium inoculum is cheaper compared to use of inorganic base fertilizers. Adequate inoculation is a well known agronomic procedure that can ensure adequate supply of nitrogen to legumes. It has reported that rhizobium can fix 50- 300kg/Ha of Nitrogen.

8. Materials French beans seeds for planting Rhizobium inoculum. Urea to be used as foliar feed Pesticides for the control of bean flies, white flies and aphids. Confidor and bostax. Labor Hosepipe and water for irrigation

9. Methodology Experiment conducted at upper Kabete field station. The experiment will be laid in a randomized complete block design with three replicates Treatments; 1. negative control, 2. Rhizobium inoculum solo 3. urea solo 4. Rhizobium inoculum & urea. Planting to be done at a spacing of 30cm× 10cm in plots of 1m×1m. Urea foliar spray applied two weeks after germination and two weeks after first application at a rate of 100kgs/ha. Inoculum applied during planting.

10. Data collection The number of nodules will be counted for three plants selected randomly at each plot at the end of the experiment and the weight recorded. Yield will be measured per plant. Number of pods will be counted. The girth and stem length will be measured to show the rate of growth Quality will be determined by pod straightness, length and those not affected by diseases

11. Data analysis Analysis of variance will be performed Separation of means will be done using protected LSD at p=0.05

12. Work plan Time Activity JanuaryFebruaryMarchApril Proposal writing xxxxxxx Planting xxxxxxx Data collection & field experimentatio n xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Harvesting xxxxxxxx Report writing xxxxxxxx

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