Response of the common bean Emphasis Type="Itali

Authors: P S Jorge Mustonen M Oelbermann D C L Kass

Publish Date: 2013/10/22

Volume: 88, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-10

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Abstract

The addition of mulch biomass from Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl Gray prior to seeding may improve bean production We evaluated the response of two Costa Rican bean cultivars Chirripo Rojo Negro Huasetco to the retention or removal of T diversifolia biomass with respect to soil chemical characteristics and bean biomass nutrient content root architecture and fungal structures There were no significant differences p  005 between bean cultivars and their influence on soil characteristics Soil pH Ca and Mg were significantly lower p  005 at bean harvest in both biomass removal and retention treatments compared to those at the time of bean sowing whereas exchangeable acidity was significantly greater p  005 at bean harvest Bean shoot nutrient concentration differed significantly between cultivars but not between biomass retention or removal treatments except for Mg Pod leaf and stem biomass root characteristics and the number of root fungal structures entry points vesicles arbuscules were significantly different p  005 between bean cultivars and mulch biomass treatments Results showed that T diversifolia biomass positively influenced bean shoot and root characteristics and suggested that the addition of mulch may have added relatively large quantities of P and K to the soil and stimulated the uptake of these nutrientsWe thank the University of Wales The Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences and The Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza CATIE in Costa Rica for assistance and providing research infrastructure We also thank Dr Gilberto Páez deceased for statistical support and the anonymous reviewers who helped improve this manuscript

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