Ecology
Rice
bean can be
grown on a
wide range
of soil types,
including
heavy paddy
soils, although
maximum yields
require fertile
loam (Kay,
1979). Although
traditionally
planted after
rice, it cannot
withstand
waterlogged
conditions
(National
Academy of
Science, 1979).
The cultivars
of rice beans
are well adapted
to practically
the same areas
as cowpeas.
As
a tropical
crop, it is
susceptible
to frost,
but tolerates
high temperatures.
It is best
grown where
temperature
averages 18-30
degrees Celsius
and where
rainfall as
1,000-1,500
mm per annum
(Duke, 1981;
Kay, 1979).
Rice beans
are known
to thrive
at altitudes
as high as
2,000 meters
in the Western
Himalayas
(Raj, 1978).
As a short
day legume,
its flowering
is only initiated
when days
are short.
The day -length
threshold
is less than
12 hours (Kay,
1979).
Introduction
| Characteristics
& Varietal
Diversity
| Ecology
I Cultivation
| Uses
| Nutritive
Value |
Pest
& Diseases
| Yield
Potential
| References
BACK
Funded
by a grant from
the Cornell
Agroforestry
Working Group
(CAWG) and the
Distance Learning
Program of the
Cornell International
Institute for
Food, Agriculture
and Development
(CIIFAD).
