Yield potential of soybean varieties and their tolerance to soybean-rust under the prevailing environmental conditions of Western Kenya

Abstract (not complete) For soybean to obtain its yield potential, rust tolerance is a must since it is one of the most prevailing and damaging diseases of soybean in most areas of Africa. While rust pressure has been limited in most areas of Western Kenya, in recent seasons, rust occurrence has increased substantially and identification of rust-tolerance is a prerequisite for successful and profitable integration of soybean in Western Kenyan cropping systems. Objectives 1. To quantify the yield potentials of rust-tolerant soybean varieties under different environment in western Kenya. 2. To identify soybean varieties tolerant to soybean rust under diffident environmental conditions of Western Kenya. 3. To assess the N2-fixation potential of rust tolerant soybean varieties. 4. To assess the economic benefits accruing from the use of fungicides on rust-tolerant and rust-susceptible soybean varieties.