PLANTING
Propagation: by seed, when soil temperature reaches about 70°C. Seed takes about
9 days to germinate. The flowers are thought to be self-pollinated. Inoculation:
similar procedures and rhizobia to lima bean inoculation.
Soil: must be well drained. Not heavy clays. Moderately tolerant of saline soil, and
tolerant of alkaline soils.
Seed rate: 11–17 kg/ha when sown in rows, 28–34 kg/ha when broadcast and 65–70
kg/ha when grown as a forage crop. 6000–7000 seeds per kg (approx. 0.15 g each).
Spacing: 60–90 cm between rows, 7.5–25 cm between plants. Sometimes 3 or 4
seeds are sown on mounds about 45 cm high. Can be grown in a 10 cm square grid.
Depth: 1.0–10 cm—varies according to soil type, moisture and the variety of bean.GROWTH CONDITIONS
Day length: short-day (some day-neutral varieties exist).
Growth period: 60 days for early varieties in the tropics, 70–90 days for most
varieties, up to about 120 days in cooler regions.
Temperature: adapted to hot, dry conditions with bright sunshine. Intolerant of
frost. Night temperatures should not be lower than about 8°C.
Rainfall: very drought resistant, and by nature of its rapid growth tepary beans often
“escape” from long drought periods. 500–600 mm per year or less is enough.
However, moist soil is needed for germination and early growth. Tolerates heavy
bursts of rain, but not much more than about 1000 mm per year. Grows well under
irrigation, best done three times before flowering. Not suited to the wet tropics.
Altitude: in Mexico and Arizona, the homeland of the tepary bean, it is grown in the
middle altitudes. When grown on the coast of Algeria it was observed that the
growth period was extended.
Pests: tepary beans are fairly resistant to insect attack. The Black Bean Aphid can be
a problem, but is easily controlled with nicotine sprays. In storage it can be attacked
by the Rice Weevil. It seems to be much more resistant to the other common storage
pest the Bean Weevil.
Diseases: rarely a problem. Rhizoctonia Root Rot may occur in wetter conditions.YIELD
Seed yields of tepary beans are modest, as you would expect, since the crop is
normally only planted in unfavourable conditions. Not only that, it produces its seed
in record time, less than two months in some cases.
In Uganda yields of 450–770 kg/ha have been reported, while in North America
dryland crops gave 500–780 kg/ha and irrigated crops 900–1680 kg/ha. Yield and
production statistics for this crop are not available from FAO.
Fodder yields are around 5–10 MT/ha of dry hay.When grown as animal fodder, a reasonable crop of tepary beans can produce
between five and ten MT/ha dry weight of hay.