GROWING SUGAR BEAN
The profitable way of
PRACTICAL GROWER GUIDE FOR SUCCESSFUL DRY BEANS
PRODUCTION IN ZIMBABWE
Njanji T.M
PREFACE
The full version of this copy provides a practical step by step guide on profitable way of grow-
ing dry bean. The book provides comprehensive techniques required to obtain maximum
yields in dry bean farming. The grower guide book was written with small scale and communal
farmer in mind addressing challenges they are facing and sustainable solutions to make sugar
bean a profitable enterprise.
The book is categorised into three Sections Introduction, Crop Husbandry, Cost cutting tech-
niques. Each section is subdivided Topics arranged in a sequential manner at the end of every
section is a practical case study to enhance understand of content discussed in the section.
A full copy of the unlimited version comes with a dry bean production DVD disc to enhance
farmer understanding.
This limited copy your reading is mere reflection of original book available at a low cost.
INTRODUCTION
Sugar bean/ common bean/ dry beans is a nutritious grain rich in pro-
tein. The crop originated from South America and was brought to Afri-
ca by Spanish and Portuguese traders. Dry bean is short season ready
to be harvested 85 to 100 days after planting. The crop is an im-
portant component in a cropping system. It is able to convert nitro-
gen gas in the atmosphere to soil nitrogen available for crop growth.
PRODUCTION STATUS OF DRY BEANS IN ZIMBABWE
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Problems associated with dry bean production
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Crop husbandry
LAND PREPARATION AN SOIL REQUIREMENTS
Avoid soils that cap (tend to make a crust). These soils will damage young emerging seedlings which will
result in a lower population. Cultivate beans on soils that drain well such as sandy loam soils. Avoid wa-
terlogged soils these soils encourage damping off and other seedling related diseases and soil pH should
be 5.5 to 6.5 .
Soil tillage
Well-prepared land ensures good germination and reduces weed infestation. Ensure that the soil tilth is
fine after tillage. Minimum tillage is encourage when preparing land to plant beans. Bean seed maybe
directly planted into previously cropped land as shown on image above. On loose soils light discing may-
be done to loosen the land. Heavy textured compact soils requires deep ploughing followed by discing.
Seed selection and planting
To obtain maximum yields certified seeds must be used. Yield reduction is significant after each genera-
tion hence it is not advisable to retain seed more than 2 times. Select a good bean variety which suits
your agro-ecological zone. Pay attention to the maturity period. Some varieties have a relatively short
maturity period and are suitable for areas with low rainfall, or when planted late in the season. Late ma-
turing varieties are less suitable for drier environments, but often produce higher grain and biomass
yields, fix more nitrogen and contribute more to soil fertility than early maturing varieties
INOCULATION
Inoculation with rhizobia can help sugar bean to form
nodules and fix nitrogen. Each legume crop needs a
different type of rhizobium bacteria, so always check
you have the right inoculant for sugar bean.
How to inoculate sugar bean with rhizobia
1. Spread 100 kg of sugar bean seed on a clean
plastic sheet or in a large container.
2. Mix 100 g of inoculant and 1 litre of water in a
clean bucket.
3. Add 50 grams of sugar into the solution. The
sugar acts as an adhesive between the seed and
the inoculant.
4. Stir the solution for 30 seconds.
5. Sprinkle the inoculant mix onto the seed.
6. As you sprinkle the inoculant onto the seed, turn the seed gently to ensure that all seeds are coated
with the inoculant. The coated seeds should look shiny wet.
7. Plant immediately after inoculation and protect the inoculated seed from direct sunlight by cover-
ing the container with paper, cloth or gunny bag.
8. Sow the seeds in moist soil and cover immediately afterwards to protect the rhizobia from sunlight.
Each inoculant packet is sufficient for 100 kg of seed. For smaller amounts of seeds, use 10 g inoculant (2 heaped
teaspoons), 5 g sugar (1 teaspoon) and 100 ml water per 10 kg seed.
Plant populations and seeding rates Planting methods
Research has shown that optimum plant density On commercial farms planting is usually done
for beans is 150 000 to 220 000 plants/ha. A by machine. On smallholder farms planting is
seeding rate of 80-100 kg/ha should be sufficient usually done by hand, and planting in furrows
to achieve these densities for currently available in rows is recommended to allow for access for
sugar bean cultivars weeding, spraying, and harvesting.
Row spacing Beans can be intercropped with maize. Beans
Recommended row spacing is 45 to 90 cm, but do not grow very well when shaded. To reduce
60 cm has been shown to give optimum yields in the shading effect, multiple rows of bean can
recent trials. Recommended in-row spacing is 5
to 15 cm, depending on row spacing. Seed
should be planted 2.5 to 5 cm deep. On small-
holder farms, closer spacing of rows allowing just
enough space to use a hoe, will help in achieving
early canopy development and reduce weed
competition.
WEED CONTROL
Efficient weed control is a prerequisite in dry beans production. The crop is a poor competitors with
weeds especially in early growth stages. Weeds during growing period increases competition and har-
bours pests and diseases and at harvesting they interferes with harvesting operation
Manual weed control: Weed about 2 weeks after planting and again 5-6 weeks after planting. If the
plants grow very well and the canopy closes early, the second weeding is not needed.
Chemical weed control: Herbicides, if used properly, are safe and effective in controlling weeds. There are
different types of herbicides. Which type to use depends on the predominant weed species and the avail-
ability of the herbicide.
FERTILISER
The rate of fertiliser is best determined by soil analysis. However as a general guide apply basal dressing
Compound D 7:14:7 at a rate of 250 to 350 kgs per ha or use Double D 14:28:14 at 150 to 200 kgs per ha.
Basal fertiliser should be applied under the seed before the seed have been planted. Avoid fertiliser seed
contact.
Three weeks after emergence apply top dressing Ammonium Nitrate depending on crop performance.
At first flowering apply potassium supplement to enhance flowering this could be potassium nitrate 100
to 150 kgs per ha.
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DISEASES
The most common serious diseases of beans are:
1. Bean Common Mosaic Virus
2. Rust,
3. Angular Leaf Spot
4. Anthracnose
5. Common Blight
6. Halo Blight.
These diseases will reduce yield and quality of the crop
if they are not adequately controlled. Excessive water-
ing will enhance disease spread.
Treatment includes Copper based chemicals for the
blight diseases and various fungicides for the rest, except for Bean Common Mosaic Virus. When you
spray, consider the stage of growth and the level of disease.
Viral diseases
BEAN COMMON MOSAIC VIRUS (BCMV)
Can cause serious yield losses.
Symptoms: Curled and malformed leaves that have alternate dark green and light green areas giving the
mottled or mosaic effect.
Control No cure use resistant cultivars
BEAN RUST
Yield loss depends on the stage of growth at which infection occurs. Early infections can cause considera-
ble yield loss.
CONTROL: Rust can be controlled chemically, using fungicides such as mancozeb (Dithane M45) and chlo-
rothalonil (Bravo), but preferably with systemic such as bitertanol (Baycor) and difenoconazole (Score).
Use of resistant varieties is the most cost-effective way of controlling rust.
ANTHRACNOSE
The pathogen infects leaves, stems and pods and can cause yield reduction as well as discolouration of
the seed.
Control: Crop rotation, use of disease-free seed, seed treatment with thiram, and preventive sprays of
mancozeb, chlorothalonil, bitertanol, or difenoconazole.
ANGULAR LEAF SPOT
Fungus survives on plant debris and can be transmitted by seed.
Control: Crop rotation and use of disease-free seed.
may enlarge and cause defoliation, and often appear on pods as well. Common blight has large necrotic
lesions surrounded by a bright yellow chlorotic area, while halo blight lesions are surrounded by a pale
COMMON MOSAIC VIRUS causing curled and Halo blight:
malformed leaves with mottled appearance
ANGULAR LEAF SPOT
ALTERNARIA LEAF SPOT BACTERIAL BROWN SPOT
ZINC DEFICIENCY COPPER TOXICITY SUN SCULLED
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GROSS MARGIN BUDGET FOR 1 HA BEANS
INPUTS RATE /HA UNIT DESCRIPTION UNIT COST COST /HA
Seed 100 kg Seedco Bonus 2.4 240 hybrid
250 kg compound D 0.63 157.5 pre planting seeding rows
Fertiliser 100 kg A.N 0.64 64 bend 3 weeks after emergence
4 kg Best bloom 0.35 1.4
4 litre Alachlor/Lasso 5.4 21.6 pre emergence broad leaves
HERBICIDES 3 litre Basagrane 15 45 broad laevs
1 litre Fusilade 20 20 post emergence grasses
0.1 litre blet 12 1.2 systemic pesticide
INSECTICIDES 1 litre Daiznon 12 12 Bean stem maggot
1 litre lambda 5 5 cut worm
2 kg Copper Oxy 8 16 preventative fungicide
FUNGICIDE 2 kg Moncozeb 7 14 preventative fungicide
0.5 litre Folicur 21 10.5 preventative supressing
labour 20 3 60
tillage 60 0 minimum tillage
Tractor hire planting 25 0 planting and basal dressing
spraying 40 0 boom spraying
Transport 30 km redius deliveries 10 300
packaging 60 bags 0.3 18
TOTAL VARIA-
BLE COSTS 986.2
INCOME: TOTAL VARIABLE COST 983
GROSS INCOME @ 2.5T/HA 2875
All figures are quoted in US$
gross margin 1892
return per $ invested 2.9
DETAILED FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AVAILABLE IN FULL VERSION
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