Climbing beans play a central role in food security of rural households in the densely populated highlands of East and Central Africa. Soil fertility degradation and the lack of nutrient inputs are major limitations to yield of beans and other crops. We conducted field trials in Northern Rwanda in Kinoni and Muko villages to evaluate the effect of mineral N, P, and K fertilizers (both alone and in combination) and farmyard manure on nitrogen fixation and grain yields of climbing bean in smallholder farmers’ fields. The trials were laid down in a randomized complete block design with seven replicate blocks in each village. Manure and fertilizer application led to greater yields in all fields, and the largest yields were achieved when manure was combined with NPK. Large variability in yield between fields was observed. Application of fertilizer together with manure increased the grain yield from 1.5 to 3.9 t ha−1 in Kinoni and from 2.6 to 5.4 t ha−1 in Muko. Fertilizer and/or manure increased stover yield from 0.8 to 2.3 t ha−1 in Kinoni and from 1.5 to 3.4 t ha−1 in Muko. Application of 30 kg P ha−1 and 5 t manure ha−1 led to increased N and P uptake (from 49 to 106 kg N ha−1 and from 6.1 to 12.4 kg P ha−1 in Kinoni and from 46 to 128 kg N ha−1 and from 5.3 to 17.9 kg P ha−1 in Muko). There was no clear relationship between soil fertility characteristics and the response of climbing bean to applied inputs at Muko site. However, at Kinoni site, limited response to manure and NPK application was observed in plots where soil available P and soil exchangeable K were relatively low. Our results show the benefits of using manure along with mineral fertilizers for increased climbing bean yields and nutrient uptake in smallholder farming systems.

中文翻译：

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卢旺达北部省攀援豆对肥料和有机肥的响应

攀缘豆在东非和中非人口稠密的高地农村家庭的粮食安全中发挥着核心作用。土壤肥力退化和缺乏养分投入是限制豆类和其他作物产量的主要因素。我们在卢旺达北部 Kinoni 和 Muko 村进行了田间试验，以评估矿物 N、P 和 K 肥料（单独和组合）和农家肥对小农田中攀缘豆固氮和粮食产量的影响。试验采用随机完整区组设计，每个村庄有七个重复区组。施肥和施肥提高了所有田地的产量，当施肥和氮磷钾时产量最大。观察到田间产量的巨大差异。-1在 Kinoni，从 2.6 到 5.4 t ha-1在穆科。肥料和/或粪肥将秸秆产量从 0.8 吨提高到 2.3 吨公顷-1在 Kinoni，从 1.5 到 3.4 t ha-1在穆科。施用 30 kg P ha-1和 5 吨粪肥公顷-1导致 N 和 P 吸收增加（从 49 到 106 kg N ha-1从 6.1 到 12.4 kg P ha-1在 Kinoni 和从 46 到 128 kg N ha-1从 5.3 到 17.9 kg P ha-1在穆科）。在 Muko 场地，土壤肥力特征与攀缘豆对应用投入的响应之间没有明确的关系。然而，在 Kinoni 站点，在土壤有效 P 和土壤交换性 K 相对较低的地块中观察到对肥料和 NPK 施用的有限反应。我们的研究结果表明，在小农户农业系统中使用粪肥和矿物肥料可以提高攀缘豆产量和养分吸收。