Performance of Some Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Varieties under Different Irrigation Systems and Regimes

Two field experiments were carried out for the two successive growing seasons of 2004 and 2005 in a silt clay loam soil at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Qalubia Governorate, Egypt. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different irrigation systems (surface drip, subsurface drip, gated pipes and furrow irrigation) and water regimes (100%, 80% and 60% Eto) on vegetative growth, productivity and WUE of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties Paulista and Bronco. Results showed that surface drip (SD) and/ or subsurface drip (SSD) systems exhibited the highest values of vegetative growth (plant height, No. branches, No. leaves, No. pods, leaves area and dry weight of stem, leaves, pods and total plant); pods yield (kg/fed) and WUE followed by gated pipes (GP) meanwhile furrow irrigation (FI) recorded the lowest values in the same concern. Increasing irrigation treatment up to 100% ETo exhibited the highest values of vegetative growth. However, the highest values of pods yield/fed. and WUE were achieved by 80% Eto treatment. Paulista variety exhibited its superiority in growth parameters. However, Bronco variety surpassed Paulista one in pods yield /fed and WUE. It could be concluded that under the conditions of the experiment or any other similar conditions, Bronco bean variety is recommended in cultivation (for export or local marketing) with irrigation at 80% Eto, corresponding to1556 m3/ fed. / season, using surface or subsurface drip irrigation systems due to its superiority in green pods yield/ fed. with higher efficiency in using water (WUE) and finally higher net profits/ fed.