Study design

The seeds were planted at three seeding rates: 5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm apart. Two levels of fertiliser (0 and 60 kg/ha N) were applied with the application of 60 kg/ha supplied as Limestone Ammonium Nitrate (LAN) two weeks after planting.

Plots were square (3 m long and 3 m wide) with a spacing of 50 cm between plots. Five rows were planted 75 cm apart within each plot. These spacings, both within and between rows, were within the spacings commonly used for commercial dry bean production in South Africa, namely, 50 cm to 75 cm between and 5 cm to 15 cm within rows.

The factorial arrangement for the treatments randomised within blocks is shown alongside in black. The first number (0, 1, 2) represents seed spacing, the second (0, 1) fertiliser level and third cultivar (0=Umtata, 1=Kranskop). Plot numbers are indicated in red.

Seeds were hand sown over a period of two days from the last day of February to the first day of March 2007. This was somewhat later in the season than when dry beans are conventionally planted. Two of the four blocks were planted on each day so that any differences that may have occurred between days of planting were confounded with block.