Page 78 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

3. Give reasons why soil drainage is an important factor to consider when
selecting a site for bean farming.
4. Mtakuja village receives heavy rains each season. Suggest ways Mtakuja
farmers can use to improve drainage in their common bean fields.
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Selection of seed variety and sowing

Selecting the right variety of common beans to grow is important for a good
harvest. Varieties differ in various ways, such as potential yield, maturity time,
pest and disease resistance, as well as nutrient contents. There are various
common bean varieties in Tanzania, each bred for a specific agroecological zone
and farmers’ preferences. For example, the JESCA variety is recommended due
to its high content of zinc and iron. Common bean varieties may change over
time. Hence, it is important to check with local agricultural officers to get the
latest information.
Common beans are usually sown using the dibbling method. This means placing
one or two seeds in a small hole by hand. Drilling is not common because it often
leads to uneven spacing and overcrowding. The proper sowing depth ranges from
3 - 5 cm, whereas spacing tends to vary with variety/ types. For bush type range
is from 10 - 15 cm between plants and 40 - 50 cm between rows. On the contrary,
climbing bean types need more space than bush types, hence require spacing
of 20 - 30 cm between plants and 75 - 90 cm between rows to allow staking.
The semi-climbing beans need medium spacing of about 15 - 20 cm between
plants and 50 - 60 cm between rows. Straight and proper row spacing helps in
weeding, watering and harvesting operations. Proper spacing also allows good
air movement and reduces competition for nutrients and sunlight between plants.

Activity 5.4

1. Visit a nearby farm/or an agricultural extension worker, office/ a local market,
then develop a list of the common bean varieties available, categorise the
varieties in bush, climbing, or semi-climbing types and search for updated
information on these varieties.
2. In your school farm, sow different types of common beans using proper
spacing for each type, then observe and document differences in plant
spacing, germination, and emergence. Monitor performance until harvesting

Student’s Book Form Three 69

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AGRICULTURE F3.indd 69