Effect of Soil Moisture Regimes on Seed Iron and Zinc Concentration of Biofortified Bean Genotypes against Malnutrition in Sud-Kivu Highlands

This study investigated the influence of three soil moisture irrigation regimes on concentration of seed iron and zinc content of four biofortified bean varieties promoted for eradication of malnutrition in Sud-Kivu highlands. A field experiment was conducted in the Hogola marsh highlands during two cultural seasons B2013 and B2014. The experiment design was a RCBD with a split plot arrangement where the main plots were 110 m2 and split plots 20 m2. A strategic application of homogenisation of the experimental site’s soil fertility by chemical fertilizers of the type- CaCO3, KCl and DAP was conducted out. Four biofortified varieties (CODMLB001, RWR2245, HM21-7 and RWK10) constituted main factor, while water regimes respectively [bottom of the slope- R1 = 48% soil moisture, at the middle of the slope R2 = 37% soil moisture and at the top of the slope- R3 = 29% soil moisture according to the gradient of humidity] represented secondary factor and seasonality, tertiary factor. The study showed that the concentrations of iron and zinc were highly correlated with soil moisture regimes. The variety HM21-7 demonstrated better adaptability because it showed a low rate of reduction of iron and zinc concentration under the three soil moisture regimes and was therefore best suited to fight malnutrition in the Sud-Kivu province.