Response of Snap Bean Genotypes to Rhizoium Inoulation and Nitrogen Fertilizer under Different Agroeologial Zones of Ethiopia By Hussien Mohammed (PhD student) In Ethiopia, snap eans are one of the eonomially important vegetale rops grown for oth export and loal markets. It is mostly grown in the Rift Valley region, espeially for export. In 2008, Ethiopia exported lose to 8000 tonnes of snap ean mainly to Europe and Middle East ringing the total revenue of 10.5 million dollars to the ountry (FAOStat, 2011). Snap ean prodution in Ethiopia is eing inreasing from time to time oth for export and loal market. In addition to large ommerial vegetale farms whih produe snap ean for export, the numer of small sale vegetale produers are also inreased for loal market. Snap ean produers for export market are restrited their prodution during the dry season under irrigation (Otoer to April). The potential of snap ean prodution during the main rainy season is not studied under Ethiopian ondition. In Ethiopia only limited numer of varieties are introdued and used for prodution. The varieties under urrent prodution are not studied for their yield responses and quality harateristis under rain fed ondition of Ethiopia. This will help to have idea for potential prodution of snap ean under different seasons depending on the apaity of the farmers and suitaility of the varieties. Snap ean produers used high rate of nitrogen regardless of the varieties, environmental impat, prodution ost and nutritional value of the snap eans. Exessive nitrogen fertilizer appliation redues vaitamin C and Ca onentrations on snap eans. High rate of nitrogen is also not affordale y small sale farmer. On the other hand snap eans elongs to the legume family that fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. The possiility of using rhizoia inoulation as soure of nitrogen is not studied under different agroeologies of Ethiopia for different varieties. The protein and mineral ontent of snap ean is affeted y the ultural praties applied to the rop. The report y Auaker (2008) indiated that planting density signifiantly affet yield, quality, protein and mineral ontent of snap ean pods. However, the effet of different agroeologies and planting season on these parameters are not well studied. In order to solve the aove prolems the following ojetives were set:- 1. To determine pod yield potential and quality of ommerial and loally 1
developed varieties of snap ean under different agro-eologies of Ethiopia 2. To see nodulation pattern of ommerial and loally developed varieties as a response of Rhizoium inoulation (HB-429) 3. To investigate the pod yield and quality response of snap ean varieties to applied nitrogen and Rhizoium inoulation under different agroeologies of Ethiopia 4. To determine the impat of agroeologies on pod yield and quality of snap ean varieties 5. To investigate the potential of snap ean prodution under low ost prodution system suited for small sale farmers that results improved nutrition and ash inome in Ethiopia 6. To investigate the impat of drought stress at different growth stages of snap ean in greenhouse onditions To attain these ojetives eight varieties of snap ean were tested at three different agroeologies (Derezeit, Zeway and Hawassa) under natural and irrigated onditions. The varieties also were tested for their response to rhizoium inoulation at the different agro-eologies. Further the response of these varieties to moisture stress at different growth stages were also investigated under greenhouse onditions at Hawassa University. Methodology The atual experiment was started in June 2011 even though the preparation went ak Marh 2011 under rain fed ondition. The field experiment was onduted at three sites Hawassa, Zeway and Derezeit. At Hawassa site planting was done June 10, 2011, however, replanting was done on July 19, 2011due to damage y ean stem maggot. Planting was done on June 26 and 27, 2011 at Zeway. Derezeit site was planted on July 6, 2011. The trail under irrigated ondition was planted in Feruary 2012. The eans were sown 8, 9, and 12 of Feruary at Zeway, Derezeit and Hawassa respetively. Irrigation water was applied for the experiment onduted under irrigation. The seond year experiment under rain fed ondition were planted on July 1, 2 and 4, 2012 at Hawassa, Zeway and Derezeit respetively. All management praties were applied from planting to harvesting aording to season and other requirements. Vegetative, flowering and nodulation data were olleted at flowering period and yield and other postharvest parameters inluding quality were olleted during harvesting time. Dried pod and straw samples were sent to University of Saskathewan, Canada, for nutrient analysis from the first experiment. 2
Most of the results are inorporated in this report. The olleted data were analyzed using SAS software. The results from the two seasons experiment are presented as follow. The greenhouse experiment was also onduted using the same varieties with the field experiment. These varieties were tested for drought at three growth stages namely at vegetative, flowering and pod setting inluding ontinuous supply of water during the whole growth period as a ontrol. At the three stages of growth drought was introdued for five days maintaining at 50% field apaity. The experiment was laid out as ompletely randomized fatorial design repliated three times. Eah repliated treatment onsisted of four pots with two plants in eah pot. Vegetative, yield and quality data were olleted and analyzed using SAS software. Result Experiment Under Rain Fed Conditions in two seasons (June to Septemer 2011 and 2012) Yield and Yield omponents The perusal of data presented on Figure 1 indiated that there was signifiant differene on yield and yield omponents of snap ean as influened y agroeologies (loations), nitrogen soures and varietal differenes. Among the eight varieties onsidered Volta and Melkassa 1 produed the highest total yield and there was no statistial differene etween them. However, as a fine variety Andante yielded signifiantly less than the other varieties. The other five varieties are in etween these extremes and they are statistially at par etween eah other. With regard to marketale yield, Andante remains the lowesst and Melkassa 1 ranked the highest and others are in etween with no differenes among them. Melkassa 1 and Volta produed the highest pod dry matter per plant ut were not statisally different from Boston, Contender lue, Lomami and Melkassa 3. Whereas, Andante produed the lowest pod dry matter per plant followed y Paulista. In other ase, Andante, Boaton, Lomami and Volta produed the largest pod numer per plant whih were not statistially different from eah other. Melkassa 3 was the lowest in pod numer per plant followed y Melkassa 1. The results of the experiment presented on Figure 2 also revealed that applied nitrogen inreased the total yield, marketale yield, dry matter per plant and pod numer per plant followed y inoulation y Rhizoium strain (HB 429). The ontrol treatment was the least for those parameters. 3
Loations exerted signifiant influene on total yield, marketale yield, dry matter per plant and pod numer per plant of snap ean varieties (Figure 3). The highest yield and yield omponents were oserved at Hawassa site followed y Derezeit and Zeway was the least of all. 250 200 a a a 150 100 50 0 Andante Boston Cont. lue Lomami Melka1 Melka3 Paulista Volta TYQPH MYQPH TYQPH=total yield quintal per hetare, MYQPH=Marketale yield quintal per hetare Figure 1. Effet of varietal differenes on total and marketale yields of snap ean under rain fed onditions in quintals per hetare ((α=0.05) 250 200 150 a a 100 50 0 100kN Rhizoium Zero TYQPH MYQPH TYQPH=total yield quintal per hetare, MYQPH=Marketale yield quintal per hetare 4
Figure 2. Influene of applied nitrogen (100kgN/ha) and Rhizoium inoulation (HB 429) on total and marketale yields of snap ean under rain fed onditions in quintals per hetare ((α=0.05) 250 200 a a 150 100 50 0 Derezei Hawassa Zeway TYQPH MYQPH TYQPH=total yield quintal per hetare, MYQPH=Marketale yield quintal per hetare Figure 3. Agroeology (Loation) on total and marketale yields of snap ean under rain fed onditions in quintals per hetare ((α=0.05) Flowering, Maturity, and Vegetative Growth Data presented on Figure 4 showed that there was signifiant differene among varieties, nitrogen soures and loations on days to flowering, days to maturity and vegetative growth of snap ean. Melkassa 1 and Boston were the latest to flower ut they differ in maturity. Andante was the earliest to flower and mature followed y Melkassa 3 and Volta (Figure 4). The other varieties were found in etween these two extremes for days to flowering and maturity. Generally it an sort out that Andante, Melkassa 3 and Volta were in the earliest group, however, Melkassa 1 and Boston ould e regarded as late group and Lomami, Contender lue and Paulista as intermediate group. 5
Further Melkassa 1 was found to e the tallest variety whih was statistially at par with Melkassa 3 and these were followed y Volta. Whereas, Andante was the shortest followed y Contender lue. Further Boston, Lomami, and Paulista were in intermediate plant height (Figure 4. Melkassa 1 extended its superiority with leaf area index followed y Melkassa 3 and Andante produed the least leaf area index too. Applied nitrogen and Rhizoium inoulation delayed flowering and maturity of snap ean varieties and the delay in flowering due to applied nitrogen was signifiantly more than Rhizooum inoulation (Tale 2). The same trend was oserved on plant height and leaf area providing the tallest plant height and largest leaf area due to applied nitrogen and Rhizoium inoulation. Snap ean varieties flower early at Zeway site followed y Derezeit and latest at Hawassa (Tale 2),however, they mature latest at Derezeit remaining the earliest at Zeway. Maximum leaf area index and tallest plant height was oserved at Hawassa ever if plant height is not statistially signifiant from Derezeit and Zeway remain the least for these parmeters too. 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 DFL DMT PTHT DTF= Days to flower, DTM=Days to maturity, PtHt= Plant height, Figure 4. Effet of varietal differenes on days to flower, days to maturity and plant height (m) of snap ean under rain fed onditions in quintals per hetare ((α=0.05) 6
70 60 50 40 30 20 100kg N Rhizoium Zero 10 0 DFL DMT PTHT DTF=Days to flower, DTM=Days to maturity, PtHt=Plant height Figure 5. Influene of applied nitrogen (100kgN/ha) and Rhizoium inoulation (HB 429) on days to flower, days to maturity and plant height (m) of snap eans under rain fed onditions (α=0.05) Pod Quality Parameters The analysis of variane showed that quality differenes were oserved among varieties, nitrogen soures and aross loations. The largest pod diameter was reorded on Melkassa 1 followed y and Melkassa 3 where as the smallest pod diameter was shown on Andante. Hene, Andante was found to e very fine and followed y other ommerial varieties. However, the two Melkassa varieties have larger pod size. Volta was found to e the variety with the longest pod length and short pod length was oserved on Andante. Commerial varieties were also superior in texture and appearane of pods over the Melkassa varieties in general. Pod diameter and urvature were not affeted y nitrogen appliation and rhizoium inoulation. However, applied nitrogen resulted the longest pod than Rhizoium inoulation and the ontrol. Moreover, applied nitrogen and Rhizoium inoulation improved the texture and appearane of snap eans. Further, applied nitrogen improved the pod appearane of snap ean varieties at signifiant level even etter than Rhizoium inoulation. On the other hand it redued TSS and 7
inreased aidity of fresh snap ean pods. Curvature was not affeted y varieties and nitrogen ut y loation, indiated that pods from Hawassa were more urved. Pod diameter and pod length were highest at Hawassa and pod diameter at Zeway was larger at Zeway and Derezeit was the least. However, pod length at Derezeit follows Hawassa the least at Zeway. Pod diameter was also not affeted y applied nitrogen and Rhizoium inoulation. Nutritional Quality The olleted data showed that varieties Andante and Contender lue were found to e highest zin onentration in the pod whih were also statistially at par with Boston and Lomami. In other ases Contender lue, Andante, Boston and Lomami had the highest iron and they were also statistially not different from eah other. On the other hand Andante and Paulista had the highest alium onentration in their edile pod, whereas, Contender lue and Lomami were superior for potassium onentrations. Snap ean pods produed in Hawassa provided higher Zn onentration followed y Derezeit, and Zeway was to e the most suitale for higher onentration of iron and alium in snap ean pods. However, nutrient onentration in snap ean pods were found to e unaffeted y applied nitrogen and Rhizooum inoulation. Nodulation The data analyzed from two season rain fed experiment showed that Melkassa 1 was superior to other varieties for all nodulation parameters inluding nodule numer, nodule diameter and nodule dry weight under rain fed onditions. Volta and Paulista were statistially at par with Melkassa 1 with nodule diameter. In ontrary Andante was the least performing on all of the nodulation parameters. It was also learly indiated that applied nitrogen inhiit nodulation of snap ean. However, inoulation of snap ean with Rhizoium inoulums (HB 429) provided suessful nodulation as evidened y all nodulation parameters. Large sized and high nodule dry weight were oserved at Derezeit followed y Hawassa. However, nodule numer was insignifiant etween loations 8
Experiment Under Irrigated Conditions (Feruary to April 2012) Yield and Yield omponents The data presented on Tale 6 showed that there was signifiant differene among varieties for yield and yield omponents of snap ean. However, most of the varieties onsidered lie on the same level of produtivity with total and marketale yields. As a fine variety Andante provided lower yield followed y Melkassa 3 under irrigated onditions aross the loations. All other varieties onsidered produed similar level of green pods. Further Boston, Lomami, Melkassa 3, Paulista and Volta provided higher level of pod dry matter per plant whih were statistially at par with eah other. Lomami and the two Melkassa varieties produed lower numer of pod numer per plant. As shown on Tale 6 Volta was superior for all yield and yield omponents presented. The highest yield and yield omponents of snap ean varieties were otained at Hawassa site, however, there was no signifiant differene etween Derezeit and Zeway sites on these parameters exept dry weight per pod. Tale 1. Effet of varietal differenes and loations on yield and yield omponents of snap ean under Irrigated onditions in 2012 Variety Treatment TYQPH MYQPH PDMPP NPPP (gm) Andante 212.9d 192.47 12.67 37.28a Boston 271.09a 252.89a 15.01a 36.04a Contenderlue 281.62a 262.83a 13.62 33.39a Lomami 264.24 246.01a 14.51a 29.47 Melkassa 1 275.04a 251.07 12.74 31.72 Melkassa 3 258.29 240.56a 14.5a 28.2 Paulista 291.1a 274.16a 14.31a 33.49a Volta 301.47a 274.41a 16.54a 37.02a CV 20.35 20.64 28.08 21.68 Loations Derezeit 245.76 228.48 14.81a 30.58 (Agroeologies) Hawassa 335.14a 307.41a 15.54a 40.93a Zeway 227.52 212.02 12.56 28.47 CV 20.35 20.64 28.08 21.68 TYQPH=total yield quintal per hetare, MYQPH=Marketale yield quintal per hetare, PDMPP= Pod dry matter per plant, NPPP=Numer of pods per plant 9
Flowering, Maturity and Vegetative Growth Perusal of data on Tale 7 showed that Boston and Melkassa 1 were the latest flowering and maturity varieties. However, Andante was the earliest of all varieties. Melkassa 1 was the tallest plant followed y Melkassa 3 and Andante was the shortest of all. The other varieties were intermediate etween these two extremes. Melkassa 1 and Melkassa 3 provided largest leaf area index and Melkassa 1 also produed highest numer of leaves per plant. However, there was no signifiant differene among varieties for harvest index. Flowering and maturity were late at Hawassa followed y Derezeit and plants at Zeway were early to flower and mature. Plant height was larger at Derezeit and was small at Zeway. Other vegetative growth was aundant at Hawassa. Large harvest index was otained from Zeway and Derezeit. Tale 2. Effet of varietal differenes and loations on days to flowering, days to maturity and vegetative growth of snap ean under irrigated onditions in 2012 Variety Treatment DTF DTM PtHt LA NLPP LAI HI Andante 42.78e 63.96d 29.21f 647.1e 39.4 1.294e 0.456 Loation (Agroeologie s) Boston 50.48a 71.67a 37.77d e 1073 d 44.41 2.147 d 0.379 Contenderl ue 46.93 67.63 36.42e 975.9d 40.19 1.952d 0.409 Lomami 46.74 67.93 37.85d e 1133 45.03 2.266 0.43 Melkassa 1 50.37a 71.48a 42.99a 1348a 53.65 a 2.696a 0.374 Melkassa 3 47.48 68.44 41.06 1421a 47.63 2.843a 0.388 Paulista 46.3d 67.7 38.77 d 1112 46.86 2.224 0.412 Volta 45.74d 67 39.92 989.9 d 39.44 1.98d 0.419 CV 3.47 2.42 7.5 20.45 16.82 20.45 12.85 Derezeit 47.17 0.425 69.82 42.5a 847.2 37 1.695 a Hawassa 48.83a 56.84 0.369 70.75a 38.57 1468a a 2.935a Zeway 45.31 39.88 64.11 32.92 947.7 1.895 0.43a 3.47 2.42 7.5 20.45 16.82 20.45 12.85 10
DTF= Days to flower, DTM=Days to maturity, PtHt= Plant height, LA=leaf area NLPP=Numer of leaves per plant, LAI= leaf area index, HI=Harvest index Pod Quality Parameters It is lear from Tale 8 that Melkassa 3 produed the longest pod followed y Boston and Volta. However, Andante produed pods with the shortest length of all. Further the two Melkassa varieties produed pods with the largest diameter, and in ontrary Andante was the smallest. Commerial varieties produed pods with etter texture and appearane than the two Melkassa varieties. There was no signifiant differene among varieties for urvature and TSS. However, Andante and Volta pods ontain more titrale aidity although these were not signifiantly different from other varieties exept Melkassa 3 whih was less aidi than the other varieties. Longer pods were produed at Derezeit followed y Zeway and larger pod diameter was otained from Zeway and Derezeit. Pod texture and appearane were etter at Zeway and aidity was higher at Derezeit and Hawassa. However, urvature and TSS were not affeted y loations. Tale 3. Effet of varietal differenes and loations on pod quality of snap ean under irrigated onditions in 2012 Variety Treatment Pod-Lth Poddia Cur Textur Pod- TSS Aidity (m) (mm) v e App Andante 10.77e 5.904e 1.0 1.04d 1.185ef 6.18 5 0.61a 5.98 Boston 12.42 7.18d 0.99 1d 1.11f 2 0.569a 7.289 Contender lue 11.41d d 1.0 1.11d 1.33de 6 0.583a 7.221 Lomami 12.1 d 0.99 1.296 1.41d 6.13 0.587a 6.20 Melkassa 1 12 8.508a 0.99 2.259a 2.593a 4 0.571a 6.01 Melkassa 3 13.17a 8.005 1 2.148a 2.37 9 0.519 7.463 6.09 Paulista 12.16 d 1.0 1.26 1.593 3 0.567a 6.22 Volta 12.45 7.549 0.99 1d 1.259def 6 0.609a CV 5.36 7.97 4.69 23.38 20.26 7.95 20.26 11
Loation 7.372a 6.16 (Agroeologies) Derezeit 12.37a 1.0 1.319 1.569 0.604a Hawassa 11.88 7.282 1.0 1.319 1.458 6.02 0.61a Zeway 11.93 7.516a 0.99 1.528a 1.792a 6.13 0.517 CV 5.36 7.97 4.69 23.38 20.26 7.95 20.26 Pod-lth=Pod length, Pod dia=pod diameter, Curv=Curvature, Pod-App=Pod appearane, TSS=Total solule solids Effet of Nitrogen Soures under irrigated onditions at Derezeit 2012 Yield and Yield omponents at Derezeit under irrigation Data presented on Tale 9 showed that applied nitrogen improved yield and yield omponents of snap ean varieties followed y Rhizoium (HB 429) inoulation. Further applied nitrogen and Rhizoium inoulation improved vegetative growth. However, Rhizoium inoulation did not improved signifiantly plant height and numer of leaves per plant as ompared to the ontrol treatment. There was also no signifiant differene among the nitrogen soures for harvest index. Tale 4. Effet of Nitrogen soures on yield and other assoiated parameters of snap ean under irrigated onditions in 2012 at Derezeit Treatments TYQPH MYQPH PDMPP NPPP PtHt LA LNPP LAI HI 100kg/haN 281.38a 264.1a 17.27a 34.13a 45.8a 1034a 39.72a 2.067a 0.435 Rhizoium (HB 429) 246.48 228.42 15.11 30.84 40.85 810.5 36.89 1.621 0.428 Zero 209.4 192.92 12.04 26.77 40.87 697.6 34.39 1.395 0.413 CV 17.91 17.85 22.94 16.85 5.65 22.77 12.27 22.77 11.45 TYQPH=total yield quintal per hetare, MYQPH=Marketale yield quintal per hetare, PDMPP= Pod dry matter per plant, NPPP=Numer of pods per plant, PtHt=Plant height, LA=leaf area, LNPP=leaf numer per plant, Leaf area index, Harvest index, 100k/haN= applied nitrogen 100kilo gram per hetare Days to flower, Days to maturity and Nodulation at Derezeit under irrigation It is lear from Tale 10 that applied nitrogen and Rhizoium inoulation delayed flowering and maturity of snap ean varieties. It was also revealed that applied nitrogen inhiited nodulation inluding nodule numer, nodule diameter and dry weight of nodule. However, inoulation with Rhizoium strain (HB 429) signifiantly improved nodulation and assoiated parameters. 12
Tale 10. Effet of Nitrogen soures on nodulation, flowering ate and maturity of snap ean under irrigated onditions in 2012 at Derezeit Treatments NNPP NDia (mm) NDMPP (gm) DTF DTM 100kg/haN 14.72 1.686 0.02 47.96a 70.58a Rhizoium (HB 429) 48.29a 2.826a 0.105a 47.5a 70.33a Zero 30.33 2.464 0.064 46.04 68.54 CV 62.59 23.02 70.85 2.05 1.60 NNPP=Nodule numer per plant, NDia=Nodule diameter, NDMPP=Nodule dry matter per plant, DTF=Days to flower, DTM=Days to maturity 100k/haN= applied nitrogen 100kilo gram per hetare Data presented on Tale 11 indiated that Melkassa 1 was found to e superior on all nodulation parameters followed y Boston. However, Andante showed poor performane on nodulation. Aundant nodulation in Melkassa 1 was aross loations and seasons under irrigated and rain fed onditions. Following Melkassa 1, Boston nodulated higher numer of nodules and larger nodule size. The other varieties were found intermediate etween these two top varieties and Andante on the other end for nodulation. Tale 5. Effet of varietal differenes on nodulation of snap ean under irrigated onditions in 2012 at Derezeit Varieties NNPP NDIa (mm) NDMPP Adante 17.63 1.709 0.029 Boston 39.93a 2.353a 0.066 Contender lue 26 2.271a 0.051 Lomami 32.48a 2.164a 0.056 Melkassa 1 51.89a 2.682a 0.127a Melkassa 3 27.37 2.551a 0.064 Paulista 26.41 2.236a 0.047 Volta 27.22 2.636a 0.063 CV 62.59 23.02 70.85 NNPP=Nodule numer per plant, NDIa= Nodule Diameter, Nodule dry Matter per plant 13
Pod Quality at Derezeit under irrigation Data presented on Tale 11 showed that applied nitrogen and Rhizoium inoulation improved most of the quality parameters. However, pod diameter and pod urvature were not affeted y nitrogen appliation. Tale 6. Effet of Nitrogen soures on pod quality of snap ean under irrigated onditions in 2012 Treatments Pod lth Pod Dia Curv Texture Pod TSS Aidity (m) (mm) App 100kg/haN 12.81a 7.41 0.997 1.208 1.292 5.979 0.664a Rhizoium (HB 429) 12.11 7.303 1.007 1.208 1.375 6 0.62a Zero 12.19 7.402 1.007 1.542a 2.042a 6.504a 0.528 CV 5.35 10.73 2.22 21.31 15.26 7.53 21.93 Pod-lth=Pod length, Pod dia=pod diameter, Curv=Curvature, Pod-App=Pod appearane, TSS=Total solule solids, 100k/haN= applied nitrogen 100kilo gram per hetare Greenhouse Experiment The analyzed data indiated that moisture defiit at vegetative stage signifiantly delayed flowering of snap ean varieties. However, maturity was most delayed y moisture defiit at pod development stage followed y vegetative and flowering stage moisture defiit. Further, moisture defiit at flowering stage affet plant height than other stages. Moisture defiit at flowering and pod development stages most ritially affet the total and marketale yields per plants and still these were also affeted y moisture defiit at vegetative stage. On the other hand lowest harvest index was reorded when moisture defiit was indued at flowering stage followed y at pod development stage. Numer of pods and pod dry matter per plant were ritially affeted y moisture defiit at flowering period followed y at pod development and vegetative stages of moisture defiit. However, the later were statistially at par to eah other. The olleted data showed that green pod quality was highly affeted y moisture defiit espeially at flowering and pod development stages. Green pods were urved the most and resulted rough texture due to moisture defiit at flowering followed y at pod development stages. However, pod urvature and texture were not affeted y moisture defiit at vegetative 14
stages. Pod length of snap ean varieties was also affeted most ritially y moisture defiit at pod development stage followed y moisture defiit at flowering and least affeted at vegetative stages. Further, green pod appearane was worsen y moisture defiit at flowering and pod development stages. Our result also showed that moisture defiit at any stages of growth did not affet TSS and aidity of snap ean green pods. Summary and Conlusion Agroeology exerted signifiant influene on the performane and produtivity of snap ean varieties and high produtivity was oserved at Hawassa site followed y Derezeit. The former extended high produtivity under irrigated onditions too. The loally developed varieties espeially Melkassa 1 resulted outstanding yield performane and produtivity aross the three agroeologies. However, ommerial varieties were superior in most of pod quality parameters. Further, ommerial varieties showed high produtivity under irrigated onditions. Varieties Andante, Boston, Contender lue and Lomami were found to e good soures of Zn and Fe and Andante and Lomami were also true for Calium. Snap ean produed at Zeway was found to e higher in Fe, Ca, K and aidity under rain fed onditions. However, Hawassa site was highest for Zn. Applied nitrogen inreased the performane and produtivity of snap eans even etter than Rhizoium inoulation and Rhizoium inoulation improved these parameters as ompared to the ontrol. Rhizoium inoulation improved nodulation parameters and applied nitrogen suppressed nodulation of snap eans. Rhizoium inoulation was effetive at all sites during rain fed experiment, however, this was true only at Derezeit under irrigated experiment. In general, nodulation at Derezeit was aundant and also with large sized nodules. Melkassa 1 was found superior in nodulation under rain fed experiment aross loations and also under irrigation at Derezeit. Nodulation was asent at Zeway and Hawassa during irrigated experiment. In general, quality snap ean an e produed under low input prodution system using rain water and Rhizoium inoulation as a nitrogen soure. 15
The greenhouse experiment showed that produtivity and quality of snap ean varieties were most ritially affeted y moisture defiit at flowering and pod development stages and the former was the worst. However, moisture defiit at vegetative stage did not show signifiant effet on most pod quality parameters ut it redued produtivity. Moisture defiit at flowering stage resulted most urved green pods, whereas, it resulted more deformed and irregular shaped pods at pod development stages. Remaining ativities 1. Repeat the greenhouse experiment at University of Saskathewan 2. Formulate at least one hypothesis ased on the urrent result and ondut an experiment to test the hypothesis at university of Saskathewan. 3. Complete the required ourses and omprehensive exam and thesis write up. 16