One of the major causes of low yield of common bean in Ethiopia is the shortage
and/or inaccessibility of high quality seed. In the Hararghe highlands of eastern
Ethiopia, farmers often use common bean seeds produced both under sole crop and
intercrop systems. This study was carried out to investigate the physical,
physiological and health qualities of common bean seed produced under sole crop and
intercrop systems by smallholder farmers of three districts of West Hararghe zone,
Eastern Ethiopia. Samples from seed retained for 2011 main cropping season planting
were collected from 100 households and tested using standard laboratory procedures.
Results indicated that seeds obtained from sole crop were different from those
obtained from intercrop system in physical purity and percentage of pathogen infected
seeds whereas the physiological quality related characteristics were similar between
the two cropping systems. With a mean pure seed proportion of above 98%, all seed
samples obtained from sole and intercrop cropping systems met the national seed
standard for common bean seed (95%). About 20 and 50% seed samples obtained
from intercrop and sole crop, respectively, had seed moisture content below the
minimum national standard for common bean seed (12%). Standard germination of
seeds of both cropping systems exhibited a wide range of variation with a mean of 75
and 84% for sole crop and intercrop originated seeds, respectively. Common bacterial
blight (
Xanthomonas campestris
pv. phaseoli) and
Aspergillus flavus
were the most
common bacterial and fungal diseases associated with the seed samples. Higher
percentage of CBB infection was found for sole seeds relative to those obtained from
intercrops. It is concluded that in areas where agricultural land is limited, farmers can
produce and use common bean seed of acceptable quality produced under sole and
intercropping systems provided that appropriate production and post-harvest
management practices are followed.
