1.1 Introduction
Beans (Vigna unguiculata) are grain legumes which are rich, water soluble vitamins and less expensive sources of dietary proteins. Beans are commonly known as the cowpea, black-eyed pea or beans, catjang, chinapeas, cowgram or southern peas, and grown in tropics and subtropics used as food for human as well as for animal (Bliss, 1972). They vary in colour, shape, size and eye-patterns. Among various types of legumes, beans is the most widely grown, traded and distributed food commodity in Nigeria (Campos-Vega and Oomar, 2010), and also exported to various countries around the world. Pesticides are poisons specifically produced to get rid of pests and other related insects (Banjo et al., 2010).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Beans are globally important leguminous vegetables that has been used for several centuries (Brink & Belay, 2006) as food for humans and feed for animals (Amira et al. 2003). These plants originated from the Americas but is now cultivated all over the world due to its nutritional and culinary values. Furthermore beans contain high amounts of protein and vitamins (Valdez-Perez et al. 2011).
Beans production and storage are greatly threatened with severe insect pests in Nigeria. These insect pests damaged the crop at various stages of development which will consequently affect its total production. During storing, these crops are extremely vulnerable to a wide range of viral, fungal and bacterial diseases. It is estimated that about 30,000 tonnes per year of cowpea seeds are damaged due to bruchids (a popular pest) during storage (Keri, 2009).
Over the years inorganic Manures have been widely used worldwide to support and optimize the growth of these vegetables. However, the use of organic Manure has gained more importance globally in the last few decades, due to efforts made for the conservation of agriculture. Organic Manures have been shown to help preserve natural resources and reduce degradation of ecosystem (Mäder et al. 2002; Francis and Daniel, 2004). As a result organic agriculture has become an alternative technology which encourages the use of natural organic compounds such as plant residues, manure, mulch and compost (Shannon et al. 2002).
Application of these natural organic compounds have been shown to improve the soil nutritional state and as well as influencing other soil properties, such as aeration, water holding capacity and particles aggregation (Pagliai et al. 2004), which contribute for better crop production, even with the use of little or without Manure application. Most vegetable producers use inorganic Manures for better production due to its easy and rapid availability to plants (Thy and Buntha, 2005). However the enduring use of synthetic Manures can eventually damage the soil chemical, physical and biological properties (Albiach et al. 2000).
Organic manure, on the other hand, provide beneficial effects to the soil and also increase availability of nutrients, which helps to maintain the quality and yield of crops and are less expensive than inorganic Manures (Thy and Buntha, 2005). Organic Manures are not only the source of organic matter and nutrient, but also boost microbial population, physical, biological and chemical properties of the soil (Albiach et al. 2000). Among organic Manures, compost and vermicompost are well known sources of plant nutrients (Sheata and El-Helaly, 2010 and Manivannan et al. 2009).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to investigate the Effect of Organic Manure on Growth of Beans.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigate reveals that toxic chemicals increase cancer rates, cause reproductive problems and contribute to a wide range of other health problems. With the development of herbicides, chemicals designed to kill plants, came new problems. Some herbicides are broad-spectrum and slaughter most plants when they are present at sufficient concentrations, while others are more specific and are targeted at only certain types of plants, such as weeds (Irispublishers, 2021).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Effect of Organic Manure on Growth of Beans. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the total dry Biomass and nodule number of beans;
- To examine the photosynthesis rate that aids the growth of beans; and
- To find out whether manure have significant effects on beans growth.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does manure have significant effects on beans growth?
- Does high photosynthesis rate aids rapid growth of beans plant?
- What is the total dry Biomass and nodule number of beans?
