Effect of Organic Amendments on Fusarium Yellows Disease on the Bean Host

Abstract

Three organic amendments locally available in Kenya namely coffee hulls (C/N>N-39), rice husks (C/N-39) and farmyard manure (C/N-ll) were tested for control of the Fusarium yellows disease of beans in the greenhouse. Coffee hulls and farmyard manure effectively controlled the disease but rice husks did not. Coffee hulls affected the bean host which showed yellowing symptoms of nitrogen deficiency. Total nitrogen analysis of the bean plants growing in the coffee hulls treatment confirmed the nitrogen deficiency and the dry weight was significantly lower in this treatment than in the others. Farmyard manure treatment did not show the deficiency and was effective in controlling the disease. In all the treatments, very high levels of amendment application affected the host by lowering the total nitrogen significantly.