INFLUENCE OF INTRA-ROW SPACING ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF GREEN BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) VARIETIES IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2023 and 2024 at the teaching and Research farm, Gubi campus, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (10022’N and 90 47’E) to determine the Influence of intra row spacing on the growth and yield components of green bean varieties in Bauchi state Nigeria. The treatment consisted of three varieties of green bean (maiaduwa, royal, banana), three intra row spacing (30cm, 40cm, 50cm). These were factorially combined to give nine (9) treatment combinations and were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replication. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, number of branches , days to 50% flowering , 100 seed weight , number of pod per plant , number of seed per pod , pod weight per plot , seed yield per plot and total yield per hectare. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) significantly difference means were separated by using Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). The result indicated significant (pvariation among all the three varieties on almost all the growth and yield parameters tested across both trials and few significant difference on the effect of intra row spacing. Effect of variety showed that, Royal recorded the tallest plant height (124.48cm&123.59cm) at advanced stage of growth. Banana gave the highest number of leaves (20.77&21.72) at 3WAS. On leaf area maiaduwa and royal recorded the largest leaf area compared to banana bean. On the number of branches, royal recorded the overall value in the advanced stage of growth (9WAS) better than maiaduwa and banana. However, the highest value for number of pod per plant (25.3&26.0), number of seed per pod (70.6&52.7), seed yield per plat (306.9&248) and total yield per hectare (7.41t/ha & 6.34t/ha) was recorded by maiaduwa and royal across the two cropping season. While Banana outperformed other varieties for days to 50% flowering and 100 seed weight respectively. Intra row spacing showed no much effects on most of the parameters measured except on plant height (3WAS), days to 50% flowering and number of pod per plant. Therefore, Maiaduwa and royal variety of green bean in combination with 30cm and 40cm intra row spacing can be adopted by growers as suitable variety and better intra row spacing in the study area. Further study should be carried out to ascertain these findings and make strong recommendation.