SBL MANUFACTURERS SEED DESCRIPTION

1. BEANS( NYOTA)

Introduction

Nyota variety is a market/consumer preferred beans developed by KALRO and has the following

characteristics:

 has light pink flowers,

 flowers in 30-40 days,

 has a uniform flowering period( all pods mature at the same time)

 matures in 60-70days

 Yields 6-10 bags-90kg per acre

 Is more drought tolerant than other bean varities.

 Brilliant red mottled grain.

Climatic and soil requirements

The optimum altitude for Nyota is 1,000 to 1600 m above sea level. Can grow well in low to

medium rainfall areas(750 - 1000 mm per annum). Nyota bean can grow on a wide range of soil

types but best growth occurs in soils that are

deep, well drained, high in organic matter and with a pH range of 6 -7.

Seeds rate and planting

The recommended seed rate is 20– 25 kg per acre

Plant at a depth of 4-5 cm

Spacing: 50 x 10 cm or 45 x 15 cm
Land preparation

The field should be well prepared to break the big soil clods. Hoes, oxen plough and tractors can

be used for ploughing.

Fertilizer

Soil analysis is strongly recommended to provide guidelines on fertilizer requirements. Apply

GPC fertilizer at the rate of two bags per acre( 50kg per acre). If applied in furrows or planting

holes, mix the fertilizer and the soil thoroughly before placing and covering the seed.

Time of planting

Beans should be planted at the onset of rains. When intercropped, beans should be planted soon

after the maize.

Weeding

Weeds reduce yield, it is therefore important to weed at least 1-2 times per season

Harvesting and yields

Harvest beans when dry and spread them out in the sun to dry further before threshing. If

threshing is done immediately after harvesting the grains will damaged because they are soft.

Treatment before storage

Beans intended for storage should be treated in one of the following ways to control bean

weevils:

- Use of non-chemical, hermetic storage technologies such as the triple layer Purdue Improved

Cowpeas Storage bags

-- Dusting with storage pesticides such as Actellic at a rate of 50 g per 90 kg bag

Bean storage

The seed should be kept clean and dry. Proper drying reduces the chance of mould formation.

Put the beans in sacks or others containers, and stored them in a clean, dry and ventilated place.

The store should not have leaking roof and rain water should not run down the walls.

2. COW PEAS K80

K80 is a dual purpose variety suitable for both grain and leaf production. He flowers are purple

blue and corollas are pigmented ivory white. Immature pods are green and turn white brown with

interspersed faint red brown spots at maturity.

Seeds are smooth and creamy brown in color with a small eye.

Yields range between 320-720kg/per acre

Matures in 80-90days

Recommended areas to grow

Nyanza, coast, lower kitui, mwingi, makueni, tharaka, Tana River districts and Yatta Plateau in

machakos districts.

Land preparation

The field should be well prepared without big soil clods and have a fine filth. Hand, oxen plough,

tractor can be used for ploughing.

8-10kg per acre

Depth of planting

Seed should be placed between 4-5cm deep and covered properly.

Time of planting

Early planting is recommended butnot before 30mm of rainfall is received.

Number of plants per hill

Sow 3-4 seeds/hill and thin 2 weeks after emergence to one seedling per hole

Spacing

The distance between rows is 60cm and between plants 20cm

Intercrop: Maize: 150cm by 30cm, 2 rows, 120cm by 30cm, 1 row.

Fertilizer

Apply GPC fertilizer at the rate of two bags per acre( 50kg per acre). If applied in furrows or

planting holes, mix the fertilizer and the soil thoroughly before placing and covering the seed.

Weeding

The first weeding should be done two weeks after emergence and the second one must be done

before flowering
Harvesting and storage

Harvest when all the pods have turned brown and are dropping.

The grains should be well dried before being stored.

3. SORGHUM GADAM

Gadam is a short variety with chalky white grain. The average yield is 3.5 tons/ha.

It is a very early maturing variety and matures in 2.5-3 months

It is highly drought tolerant hence suitable for moderately dry and very dry areas in upper

eastern and lower eastern Kenya

Based on observed Gadam sorghum grain yield following a legume crop, shorter maturity

Gadam green gram variety is best legume type for rotation with sorghum in the semi arid

lower eastern Kenya.

Gadam sorgum with fertilizer application ( GPC fertilizer), timely thinning and weeding 3-4

weeks after crop emergence are best practices in the semi arid lower eastern Kenya with

potential yield of 3.5tons/ha of grain.

Over 90% sorghum grain yield can be salvaged if harvested at soft dough stage( cream

white).

It is recommended that farmers should harvest grain sorghum early to avoid damage by birds

where these are a challenge. A full sunny day will provide the shortest drying period, while a

cloudy or humid day could lead to grain rotting.

Matures 90-100 Days

Early maturing

Dry transitional to dry-mid altitude regions of lower and upper eastern, Central , Rift valley

(Homa bay, Kambi yam awe, Kathiani, Katumani, Kiboko, Kitui, Masongaleni, mogotio,

Rwika and salama)

90-100 Days

Weeding.

Weeding can be done manually or by use of herbicides.

If manually the first weeding should be within the third week after planting depending on the

growth of weed in the area.

If by use of herbicides after planting, you can spray the weeds with appropriate herbicides to

get rid of all types of weeds.

Fertilizer

Apply GPC fertilizer at the rate of two bags per acre( 50kg per acre). If applied in furrows or

planting holes, mix the fertilizer and the soil thoroughly before placing and covering the seed.
 Harvesting

Maize matures after 3-4months for the short seasons variety and others go upto 10 months or

more.

Harvesting can be done when the maize is green and dry.

Storage

Maize should be properly dried before storage.

Treat you maize before storage against storage pests e.g weevils.

Store in a clean and dry storage to prevent fungal disease attack.

5. PEARL MILLET KAT PM3

Generally, millets adapt to a wide range of agro-economic zones. In Kenya millet is grown from

0 – 2400 M above sea level (Masl). However, in the arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) it is

grown within 250 – 1500m above sea level.

KAT PM3 is grey in color

Yields between 10-12 90kg bags/acre

Land preparation.

Dry ploughing is advantageous to kill the weed seeds and hibernating insects and pathogens by

exposing them to the heat. Initial ploughing should be carried out at optimum moisture range to

get fine seedbed and should be avoided when moisture is in excess. For pearl millet, birds are a

major threat in all major millet production areas in Kenya and especially where isolated

production takes place. In such areas, isolated fields far from homesteads and near birds breeding

sites should be avoided. Timely land preparation facilitates timely planting which ensures higher

yield. Millet is a small seeded crop and therefore requires a fine seedbed, for good seed

germination and seedling establishment. If a tractor or oxen plough is used to open the field, it is

advisable to harrow it once in order to break the large soil boulders.When hand-hoes are used for

land preparation, the large soil boulders should be reduced by breaking them to provide a

moderately smooth seed bed.

Fertilizer

Most soils in millet production areas are deficient in essential macronutrients such as nitrogen

(N) and phosphorus (P), which are essential for adequate crop growth. To correct these

deficiencies, a wide range of organic fertilizers are recommended. Soil analysis is strongly

recommended to provide guidelines on fertilizer requirements. Apply GPC fertilizer at the rate of

two bags per acre( 50kg per acre) Planting fertilizer is drilled along the planting furrow and

thoroughly mixed with soil before seeds are planted. In soils with low fertility and in instances
where rainfall continues beyond 30 days after planting, top dress with GPC at a rate of one bag

(25 Kgs) per acre when the crop three weeks after germination.

Weeding

The first weeding should be done within 2 weeks after emergence as the yield components that

determine the grain filling capacity are determined within 45 days after emergence. Two

weeding sessions in a season are recommended.

Harvesting

Millet grains should be harvested as soon as they are physilogically mature. Late harvesting may

lead to lodging leading to losses and grain deterioration due to rapid changes in temperatrue and

humidity.

Storage

Millet grain should be sun-dried to the recommended moisture content of 12-13 % and dusted

with actellic gold. The grain is then kept in either metal or plastic containers.
 6. PIGEON PEAS MBAAZI I

Pigeon pea is drought resistant and grows at altitudes between 0-1800 meters above sea level

(masl) but may also be found at altitudes of up to 2000 masl.

Pigeon pea is largely cultivated as dry land or rain fed crop, and is fairly drought tolerant. It

performs optimally in areas where rainfall is between 400 and 750 mm per annum. The crop

prefers moist conditions in the first two growing months, and drier conditions during f

lowering and harvesting.

The crop grows well in all types of soils, varying from sandy to heavy loams, with

welldrained, medium heavy loams being best. It requires a pH ranging from 5.0 to 7.0, but

can tolerate pH 4.5–8.4. Pigeon pea is sensitive to high salinity and water logging. It grows

well in soils with low phosphorus levels.

Flowers in 55-70 days

Matures in 105-120days

•Pods are green with purple streaks •

It is a determinate that grow to 80-120 cm high depending on the season and altitude.

•It is compact and is grown as sole crop.

•Highly susceptible to insect pests mainly pod sucking bugs and pod borers

Seed rate
Sole cropping

The seeding rates for pure stand are 12 to 25 kg/ha.

Spacing

50 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants if using plough, skip one furrow.

Weeding

Pigeon pea is sensitive to weed competition in the early growth stage and it is important to

keep the crop weed free in the first 45 to 60 days of growth.

When to Harvest

Pigeon peas can be harvested when still green and used as a vegetable or they can be left to

dry and harvested as dry grain. Harvesting of green beans is done when the pods and seed are

developed. Since bright green seed is preferred, the pods should be harvested just before they

start losing their green colour

Storage

Grains should be stored when thoroughly dried (< 13% Moisture content) and can be

determined using a moisture metre, dressed in Actellic Super (50 g per 90 kg bag), or with

Neem leaves or treated with wood ash (4-6 kg per 90 kg bag) if stored for longer period.
 7. GREENGRAMS BIASHARA

Early maturing Drought tolerant

Has a determinate growth habit

Pods are black and contain shiny green grains

Flowers in 40-45 days

Matures in 60-65 days

Potential yields range from 300-1500kg/ha or 520-600 kg/acre

Can do well in both semi-arid and well-watered areas of between 50-1600m above sea level.

Biashara is suited to well- drained sandy loams and because of its earliness

It has proved more successful in the drier areas of lower Machakos, Kitui, Mwingi, Tharaka,

Mbeere and Makueni districts