Maravi

(HERALD) Tips on growing sugar beans

COMMENT - Again, this is very basic stuff. 5.2 pH is very low and I wonder if sugar beans are unique in being able to handle such a low pH. PH can be raised by adding humus to the soil, either from compost or from living plants through green manuring or growing plants with extensive root systems like sorghum. Decomposition of roots can be speeded up by regularly grazing-flooding the field. Usually, it are the higher elevation, sandy soils which wash out that have these low pH levels. Increasing humus levels is a longer term solution than liming. Sometimes I think the methods of these commercial farmers are praised, but they are really old-fashioned. People should check into no-till farming, and Natural Farming for outlying land.

Tips on growing sugar beans
Agriculture Reporter

Sugar beans can be grown throughout Zimbabwe but there are several factors that may affect production.

According to Seed Co’s 2010/11 product manual, lack of water and frost may also affect sugar beans production.

l Choose varieties that are resistant to diseases.

l Sugar beans are prone to diseases transmitted by seed and farmers should only use good quality disease-free seed. It is not advisable to use retained seed from year to year.

l Plant well in drained fertile soils.

l Sugar beans are sensitive to acid soils and liming is important, ideal pH (acidity and alkalinity) is 5,2.

l Sugar beans respond to basal manure and fertilizer application. A light application of top dressing fertilizer of 100 kg-per hectare at flowering stage is beneficial.

l Thiram seed treatment before planting will improve plant stand.

l Dressing with insecticide will reduce seedling losses due to bean stem maggot.

l Farmers should scout for diseases such as rust, angular leaf spot and anthracnose. Beware of bacterial and viral diseases. Control with fungicides as necessary.

l Check for pests such as bean fly maggot, aphids, thrips and bollworms.

l Sugar beans do not perform well under excessive water during growing or very hot conditions when flowering.

Labels: AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION FARMING, NATURAL FARMING

posted by MrK @ 12:12 AM