Assessment of Yield and Yield Components of Soya-Bean (Glycine Max (L.) Merril) Grown Under Conventional Agronomic Practices of Lesotho (Published)
An experiment on soya-bean cultivars was conducted in Lesotho at The National University of Lesotho, Roma, with the objectives of (i) establishing the differences among the soya-bean cultivars in terms of growth and yield parameters measured (ii) to estimate the regression coefficients for yield components (iii) determining correlation among traits that influence yield of soya-bean. Field plot experiment was laid-out in a completely randomized block design with 28 treatments and three replications. Data collected were 100 grain weight, plant height, number of pods per plant leaflets size and leaflet shape. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, multiple linear regression and person’s correlation of coefficient. Results of analysis of variance revealed highly significant difference (P<0.001) among soya-bean cultivars for plant height, weight per plot and weight of 100 grains, while no significant differences were observed among leaf shape, number of pots per plant and leaf size. Regression analysis showed a highly significant (P<0.01) regression, implying that plant height contributed immensely on the yield of soya-beans followed by leaflets shape. Correlations among most parameters were high and few parameters were moderately correlated.
Keywords: Glycine max, Lesotho, correlation coefficient, yield and yield components
Genetic diversity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) introduced for adaptation in Lesotho (Published)
Common beans are introduced in Lesotho from CIAT-Malawi annually to evaluate them for adaptation and other characters of economic importance. They are not being characterized for identity, therefore the study was conducted at National University of Lesotho located in the Maseru District of Lesotho with specific objectives of (1) estimating genetic distances among the common bean genotypes using morphological features and (2) identifying morphological characteristics that contributed to discrimination of these cultivars. Randomized Complete Block Design was applied with four replications. Twenty cultivars of common beans from CIAT-Malawi were used as treatments. Data were collected using descriptor of common beans compiled by International Board of Genetic Resources Unit. Data generated were subjected to cluster analysis and principal component analysis using Genstat recover (2015). Results of cluster analysis revealed four groups, of which two consisted of five cultivars, another had four and the last one only two cultivars. Besides, there were three outliers. The results of principal component analysis showed the total variation accounted for by both principal component 1 and 2 was 35.95% with each constituting 18.62 and 17.33 %, respectively. The characters responsible for variation from the first principal component analysis were seed shape, colour of flowers, colour of wings, seed-coat pattern and pod beak orientation. The characters influencing separation along the second principal component were number of locules per pod, number of seeds per pod, leaflet length, days to flowering and pod colour. It can be deduced that the cultivars broad in to Lesotho is diverse broadening the genetic base of the existing common bean genotypes
Keywords: Cluster analysis, Common bean, Lesotho, Principal Component Analysis
Variability in Yield and Yield Components among Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Genotypes (Published)
Common bean is an important leguminous crop grown by farmers for home consumption and local market in Lesotho. Its low productivity has been a great concern necessitating introduction of new improved cultivars that are tested for adaptation and yield potential. The study was conducted at National University of Lesotho located in the Maseru District of Lesotho with specific objectives of (1) determining the difference in yield and yield components of common bean genotypes obtained from CIAT and also (2) determining correlation coefficient among the yield components of the genotypes. Randomized Complete Block Design was applied with four replications to lay-out an experiment. Twenty cultivars of common beans obtained from CIAT were used as treatments. Parameters measured were plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and weight of 100 seeds (g). Data generated were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat recovery version (2015). The results revealed significant differences in number of pods per plant, yield and plant height among twenty cultivars. No significant difference was obtained among different bean cultivars for weight of 100 seeds per pod and number of pods per plant. Number of pod per plant showed a positive correlation between number of seed per pod, plant height and seed weight per pod but had negative correlation with weight per 100 seeds. Seed weight had negative correlation with all components of beans.
Keywords: Common bean, Lesotho, yield component
Sorghum Productivity Trends and Growth Rate for Lesotho (Published)
Aims of paper were: to compare area planted and harvested sorghum; determine production trend over the time-period of 53 years; estimate productivity trend and growth rate; and compare National Cereals supply–demand balance. Time series data collected from FAOSTAT and Bureau of Statistics spanning 1960 to 2013 were subjected to GENSTAT for statistical analysis. Results showed persistent decline in area planted and harvested. Area under sorghum cultivation, production and yield fluctuated erratically throughout study period. Production decreased from 84 000 tonnes in 1975 to 22 000 tonnes in 2010, with only 18% of the period recording yield above 1 tonne ha-1. Increase production area did not always translate into higher yield. Despite low yield, sorghum utilization was 16 000 tonnes compared to 11 000 tonnes produced, thus necessitating an import of 5 000 tonnes, thus there was higher sorghum self-sufficiency level. Promotion of sorghum production and its use should be revisited to address food security and export value.
Keywords: Growth Rate, Lesotho, Sorghum, Trend Analysis