Development of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Production Under Low Soil Phosphorus and Drought in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Sustainable Development
Abstract
Owing to its nutritional value, especially proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and micronutrients, common bean
(Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) has been recognised as a crop that could ensure food security mostly, in Sub-Saharan
Africa, where its productivity is low. Its low productivity is attributed to a milliard of constraints, of which low
plant-available phosphorus (P) and limited moisture in soil are among the major limiting factors. Synergistic
effects of the two factors are accentuated in Sub-Saharan African region. This paper discloses the importance of
the synergistic effects of plant-available P and moisture in soils on common bean production. It has been
observed that studies investigating impacts of interactions of low P levels and moisture deficit conditions in soils
are yet to be conducted. Identification of traits that contribute to high performance under low P availability and
moisture deficit in the same genotypes remains a major research and development challenge. However,
engineering new genotypes alone may not alleviate the problem of ensuring improvement of high bean yields.
Root architecture and root exploration of the soil that enable the plant to access the two soil resources, traditional
methods that preserve good status of organic matter in soils and moisture and soil preparation techniques are
equally important. This, calls for holistic investigations that include soil plant-available P and moisture, common
bean genotypes and their root systems, and agronomic measures to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of
impacts of deficiencies in soils on common bean yields. This paper explores and synthesizes existing research
and development of common bean grown in soils deficient in plant-available P and moisture, aiming at designing
future research to enhance common bean productivity.
Description
Keywords
developing countries, food security, nutritional value, plant-available phosphorus, soil moisture, synergistic effects
Citation
Margaret, N., Tenywa, J. S., Otabbong, E., Mubiru, D. N., & Ali, T. (2014). Development of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Production Under Low Soil Phosphorus and Drought in Sub-Saharan Africa: A. Journal of Sustainable Development, 7(5), 128-139.