This work was conducted to study the effect of four sowing dates ( 15th Jul., 15th Aug., 15th Sept., 15th Oct.), three cultivars (Bronco, Paulista and Xera) and three micro-elements (Zn, Fe or Mn) on growth, pods yield quantity and quality and pods chemical constituents of snap bean grown under sandy soil conditions. It was carried out at the Experimental Farm of El Kassasein Research Station, Ismailia Governorate, during two consecutive seasons (2005 and 2006).
Plant growth characters ( plant height, number of leaves and branches/plant and dry weight/plant), yield quantity and quality and pods chemical constituents (NPK and protein) were significantly increased with sowing plants at 15th Sept. or 15th Oct. Meanwhile, sowing date at 15th Oct. recorded the least value for white pods percentage compared with other sowing dates.
Paulista cultivar gave the highest values of vegetative growth and yield quantity, while Xera cultivar was the best cultivar which showed the least appearance of white pods and high values of pods chemical constituents (NPK and protein), while Bronco cultivar exhibited maximum appearance of white pods under study.
Spraying plants with Zn, Fe and Mn did not show any significant effect on growth and yield quantity and quality as well as pods chemical constituents.
In general, sowing Paulista cultivar on Sept. 15th or Oct. 15th gave the highest values of growth and yield quantity. Meanwhile, sowing Xera cultivar on Sept. 15th or Oct. 15th gave the least value of white pods percentage and high value of pods chemical constituents (NPK and protein).