YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF GREEN BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) VARIETIES RESPONSE TO NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS RATE

Yield and yield components of green bean varieties response to nitrogen and phosphorus research was carried out at Kadawa irrigation research station of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria during the 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 dry season. The treatment consisted of three varieties of green bean (Ex-Brown, Dangora and Yar-Helina), four levels of nitrogen (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg N ha-1) and three levels of phosphorus (0, 22.5, and 45 kg P ha-1). Factorial combinations of varieties and nitrogen were assigned to the main plots, while P was assigned to the sub-plots, arrange in a split plot design and replicated three times. Dangora and Yar-Helina performed significantly better than Ex-Brown in most of theyield and yield components of green bean varieties. Application of nitrogen fertilizer increased yield and yield components significantly compared to the control and phosphorus fertilizer rates of 22.5 and 45 kg P ha-1 showed statistical similarities but performed better than the control. Farmers in sudan savannah ecological zone can adopt the application of 60 kg N ha-1 and 22.5 kg P ha-1 with Dangora or Yar-Helina varieties.