Varieties
KVR22 (KAT/MB22 or N22), KVR 26 (KAT/MB 26 or N26)
Ecological conditions
Altitude: 500-1600m above sea level
Temperature: 28-300C
Rainfall: At least 600 annually
Soils: Prefer sandy loam soils which are well drained
Land preparation
Done early before the onset of rains, harrow to a medium tilth.
Planting
Planting should be done early during the onset of rains. Plant 2 seeds per hole at a spacing of 45cm by 15cm. Seed rate range from 10-15kg per hectare.
Fertilizer application
No fertilizer required unless in highly eroded soils deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus where 20-25kg per hectare of TSP or SSP should be applied during planting and 10-15kg of nitrogen per hectare should be applied (basal method) during top-dressing.
Weed management
Weeding should be done twice, the 1st weeding done after crop establishment and 2nd weeding just before flowering.
Pest management
Bean bruchid: Clean stores properly, dust grains before storage using actellic super or skana super.
Flower thrips: Spray with suitable insecticide eg thiodan
Bean aphid: Practice early planting, remove volunteer plants from the field, spray with suitable insecticide eg thiodan
Bean fly: Practice early planting, remove volunteer plants, crop rotation, plant resistant varieties, and use suitable insecticide such as karate, seed dress using Murtano or Gaucho.
Disease management
Powdery mildew: Practice crop rotation, use certified seeds, use suitable fungicide which is copper based eg mancozeb, score or ortiva
Yellow mosaic virus: Use certified seeds, plant resistant varieties, control insect vectors such as bean aphid.
Harvesting and storage
Done when 95% of pods have turned black, pick at weekly intervals. Dry the pods further, thresh and store the grains in air tight drums or gunny bags at 13% moisture content.