Effect of Plant Spacing on Growth and Yield Performance of two Newly Released Varieties (Adoye and Ennepa) of Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris).

Abstract

Two field trials were conducted at two different sites at the Multipurpose Crop Nursery field of Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Asante Mampong from March to July and August to December 2023 in the major and minor cropping seasons, respectively to assess the growth and yield performance of two newly released common beans varieties to different plant spacings. A 2 x 4 factorial experiment arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with eight treatments and each replicated four times was used for the study. The treatments were two common bean varieties [(i) Adoye and (ii) Ennepa] and four Plant Spacing [(i) 60 cm x 20 cm; (ii) 50 cm x 20 cm; (iii) 40 cm x 20 cm and (iv) 30 cm x 20 cm]. The results showed that Ennepa flowered and podded earlier than Adoye across both seasons, with variety × spacing interaction significantly influencing days to 50% podding. Adoye had greater plant height and stem diameter during the major season, while Ennepa had superior branch number, leaf count, and biomass accumulation, particularly under wider spacings (60 cm × 20 cm) in both cropping seasons. 50–60 cm × 20 cm significantly enhanced growth parameters across both seasons than 30 cm – 40 cm x 20 cm. Ennepa grown at 50 cm × 20 cm and 30 cm × 20 cm produced greater pod number, pod weight and longer pod length and grain yield than Adoye in the minor season. Grain yield ranged from 1.05 -2.47 t/ha and 1.20-1.58 t/ha for the major and minor season, respectively. On the average across both seasons the 30 x 20 cm produced the highest grain yield, while the 60 x 20 cm had the lowest grain yield. Ennepa also produced higher grain yields than Adoye in both seasons. It is recommended that Ennepa and Adoye should be planted at a spacing of 50 cm × 20 cm or 30 cm × 20 cm for higher yield, while wider spacings of 50–60 cm × 20 cm are ideal for maximizing vegetative growth.