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Beans are regarded as one of the most important legumes in the world thanks to their nutritional benefits. It is a staple food crop in Kenya, ranking second only to maize. To have a Successful bean farm, you must use the right bean fertilizer, identify the right ecological conditions and know which bean variety you want to plant.

The major bean-growing provinces are Eastern, Nyanza, Central, Western, and the Rift Valley. The type of fertilizer to use will depend on the soil conditions of your farm. It is for this reason why we advise farmers to have their soil tested before they plant beans.

Some of the bean varieties grown in Kenya are:

• Rose Coco’s formal name is Rose Coco.
• Mwitemania
• Wairimu
• Mwezi Moja
• The Canadian W
• Kenya Mali KK 15

Best Bean Fertilizer to Grow Your Business

Most people assume that they will just plant beans and they will naturally grow because they produce nitrogen. This is far from the truth because every plant has its nutritional requirements. So what are the benefits of using the right fertilizer for beans?

• The right fertilizer will boost crop yields
• It will promote early crop development
• It will minimize flower bud abortion
• It will increase the quality of the product in terms of shape, size, taste and flavour.

Before we discuss the right type of fertilizer to use, it is important to know some of the factors that might affect bean yields. These sensitivities are:

The PH

Soil PH is a term used to refer to either the alkalinity or acidity of the soil. It is determined through a soil testing process. Each crop has a suitable PH level that it thrives in. In the case of beans, the recommended soil PH is 6.

Salinity Levels

Salinity refers to the number of dissolved salts that can be found in the soil. So how does salinity affect plant growth? When the soil has high salinity levels, plants are not able to absorb water and this affects the quality and quantity of your yields.

Amount oF Micro Nutrients in the Soil

Most people do not know this, but beans are very sensitive to excess micronutrients such as Boron, Zinc, Copper, and Molybdenum. It is, for this reason, we advise that you always have a soil test done before you plant anything on your farm. Also, ensure that you seek the advice of a licensed agronomist.

Fertilizer Requirements of Beans

The fertilizer requirement for beans per kg/ha is demonstrated below

During the Base dressing Stage. The following fertilizer should be applied {KG/Ha}

SSP**  Stands for a single superphosphate fertilizer

AS* stands for aluminium sulfate {the best fertilizer has a ratio of {21-0-0}

Potassium sulfate should also be applied {0-50-0}

During the fertigation stage, the following fertilizer should be applied

Note:

Fertigation is important because it feeds the beans with additional nutrients that it requires to grow

Contrary to popular belief, nitrogen fertilizer should be added to the plant during every irrigation cycle. This should stop when the foliage has fully developed.

Potassium should be added to bean plants while the pods are developing to speed up the growth process and increase the quality.

Beans can also be used to supplement and encourage the growth of carrots. As a legume, the beans will fix nitrogen into the soil and this means the farmer will use less carrot fertilizer. If your carrot farm has a defeciency of nitrogen, don’t hesitate to use legumes to supplement the nitrogen.

Environmental Requirements

Bean crops thrive in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter, weed-free and has an ideal PH of 6-7.5. Waterlogged soils should be avoided.

Altitude

The crop thrives at altitudes ranging from 1000 to 2100 meters above sea level. It does, however, grow and mature more quickly in low-altitude zones.

Rainfall

A well-distributed annual rainfall of 800-2000mm is appropriate for rain-fed production. If rainfall is insufficient, irrigation should be used. Excessive rain or long dry spells are unfavourable and reduce yields. Excessive rainfall during the flowering stage causes flowers to abort as well as increase the possibility of the beans being attacked by diseases.

If you are using rain-fed agriculture, we advise you plan your schedule in such a way that when you are harvesting the beans, there will be no more rain.

Temperature

Beans grow best in temperatures ranging from 15 to 33 degrees Celsius. However, the ideal growing temperature is 20-25 degrees Celsius. Relatively high temperatures have an impact on the flowering and pod development process.

How to Plant Beans

It is advisable to use certified seeds because they are free from diseases and are suitable for planting in your local area. It is not advisable to replant seeds especially those that are wrinkled, damaged, or diseased. If rain-fed agriculture is preferred, planting should begin as soon as the rains begin. If you delay sowing your seeds and plant halfway during the rainy season, the plants might die which will reduce your yields.

Seeds should be planted at a depth of 1-2 inches with a spacing of either 40*15cm (2 seeds per hill) or 30*15cm (1 seed per hill). The good thing with beans is that they can be intercropped with other crops such as maize.

Depending on the variety and environmental factors, seeds germinate in 4-7 days.

NB: Do not plant beans in areas where the  Nitrogen levels in the soil are too high or where green manure crops are lying idle on the ground. This is because the leaf beans might develop at the expense of the bean pods and this will decrease yields.

Kenya Mali: A Drought-Tolerant Variety

Kenya Mali was developed by researchers from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in collaboration with the University of Nairobi. It is drought-resistant due to its deep roots and can thrive in any ecological region of the country.

According to Bio-Innovative Africa, a regional agricultural innovation centre, this bean variety is resistant to perennial bean diseases such as Angular Leaf Spot, Root Rot, Bacterial Blight, and Rust, which are responsible for 25 per cent of global bean yield loss.