EFFECT OF PLANT SPACING ON YIELD RELATED TRAITS AND YIELD OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgarism L.) IN CHIRO DISTRICT OF WEST HARARGHE Zone, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

One of the basic agronomic practices to improve the yield potential of common bean is identification of optimum plant spacing. Thus, field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of inter-row and intra-row spacing on the yield and yield components of common bean using variety Dursitu (DOR-811) at Chiro District in eastern Ethiopia. The treatment consisted of four inter- row (20, 30, 40 and 50cm) and four intra- row (5, 10, 15 and 20 cm) spacing arranged in factorial combinations in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on days of 50% emergence, 50% flowering, physiological maturity, plant height, number of primary branch, number of pod , number seed per pod,100 seed weight, and grain yield and subjected to statistical analysis using Gene State Software version 18. The main effect of inter-row, intra row and their interaction were showed non-significant effect on days to 50% emergence of common bean. The main effect of inter-row and intra- row spacing showed highly significant effect on days to 50% flowering and physiological maturity. The highest days to 50% flowering (63 days) and days to physiological maturity (85.5 days) were recorded at 50 cm inter-row spacing, on the other hand, at 20 cm intra-row spacing, the highest days to 50% flowering (61 days) and days to physiological maturity (84.42 days) were recorded. The main effects of intra-row and inter-row spacing were significant on plant height. The tallest plant height (59.03 cm) was recorded under the interaction of 20cm inter-row spacing and 5cm intra row spacing. The 50 x 20 cm spacing produced the highest number of primary branches (4.5) while, the lowest number (3.03) was scored under 20 x 5 cm. Stand count at harvest was increased from 87.5 % to 94.44%.As intra-row spacing increased from 5 to20cm respectively. The 50 cm inter row spacing was produced the highest number of pods (40.71) and 20cm intra raw spacing produced 37.86 pods per plant respectively. The highest number of seeds (6.93) per pod was scored under the interaction of 50cm inter and 20cm intra row spacing. The highest hundred seed weight (24.47g and 24.29 g) were recorded at 50 cm inter-row and 20 cm intra-row spacing respectively. The highest seed yield (3.66 tones ha-1) and (2.683 tone ha-1) was recorded under 40 cm inter-row with 10 cm intra- row spacing and 30cm inter row with 15cm intra row spacing respectively. Thus, based on the results of this study, 40 cm inter-row with 10 cm intra-row spacing can tentatively gave high yield followed by 30 cm inter row with 15cm intra-row spacing as best for production of common bean in the study area as compliment to the current recommendation of 40 x 10 cm. However Conclusive recommendation could be obtained if the study is repeated at more locations and seasons