Yield,Nutrient Uptake,and Changes in Soil Chemical Properties as Influenced by Liming and Iron Application in Common Bean in a No-Tillage System

Soil acidity is the principal limiting factor in crop production in Oxisols, and deficiency of micronutrients has increased in recent years because of intensive cropping. A field experiment was conducted over three consecutive years to assess response of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to lime and iron (Fe) applications on an Oxisol in a no-tillage system. Changes in selected soil chemical properties in the soil profile (0- to 10- and 10- to 20-cm depths) with liming were also determined. Lime rates used were 0, 12, and 24 Mg ha^–1, and Fe application rates were 0, 50, 100, 150 200, and 400 kg ha^–1. Both lime and Fe were applied as broadcast and incorporated in the soil. Grain yields of common bean were significantly increased with the application of lime. Iron application, however, did not influence bean yield. There were significant changes in soil profile (0- to 10-cm and 10- to 20-cm depths) in pH, calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), hydrogen + aluminum (H⁺ + Al³⁺), base saturation, acidity saturation, cation exchange capacity (CEC), Ca²⁺ saturation, Mg²⁺ saturation, potassium (K⁺) saturation, and ratios of Ca/Mg, Ca/K, and Mg/K. These soil chemical properties had significant positive association with common bean grain yield. Averaged across two depths and three crops, common bean produced maximum grain yield at pH_w 6.3, Ca²⁺ 3.8 cmol_c kg^–1, Mg²⁺ 1.1 cmol_c kg^–1, 3.5 H⁺ + Al³⁺ cmol_c kg^–1, acidity saturation 41.8%, CEC 7.5 cmol_c kg^–1, base saturation 57.4%, Ca saturation 45.2%, Mg saturation 14.2%, K saturation 9.1%, Ca/Mg ratio 3.1, Ca/K ratio 22.6, and Mg/K ratio 6.7.     

Investigations on the Relationship between Extracting (DTPA) Solutions and Plant (Phaseolus vulgaris) in the Uptake of Cadmium and Lead from Latosols

Given the relationship between the contents of heavy metals extracted from contaminated soil samples and dilution of these samples in diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DTPA) solution, the goal of this work was to test three soil–extractant solution ratios, namely 1:5, 1:10, and 1:15. The extracted contents from each solution were compared to those extracted by bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivated in a greenhouse in two different soils: dystrophic red latosol (RLd) and humic red-yellow latosol (RYLh). Contents of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were greater in RYLh (lower amount of clay) for all soil–extractant ratios; 1:5 and 1:10 ratios differed negligibly from the plant result for the Cd extraction, while for Pb, the 1:15 soil–extractant ratio was the one that better correlated with the extractive behavior of sensitive indicator plants.     

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY IN DRY BEAN GENOTYPES

Dry bean is an important legume crop for Latin American people and nitrogen is one of the most yields limiting nutrients for bean crop. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate nitrogen (N) use efficiency of 20 dry bean genotypes. Genotypes were grown on an Oxisol and two N levels used were without N application (low level) and an application of 400 mg N kg^?1 (high level). Shoot dry weight, grain yield and yield components, N concentration and uptake in shoot and grain were significantly affected by N and genotype treatments. Grain yield had a highly significant (P < 0.01) association with shoot dry weight, pod number, grains per pod and 100 grain weight. Among the 20 genotypes tested, Perola, CNFR 7847, CNFR 7865, CNFP 7777 and CNFM 6911 were found to produce reasonably good yield at low N rate as well as responded well to applied N. Whereas, some genotypes like BRS Radiante, CNFP 7624, CNFM 7875, CNFM 7886, CNFC 7813, CNFC 7827, CNFP 7677 and CNFP 7775 produced very good yields at higher N rate but very low yields at lower N rate. Hence, these genotypes are good for farmers using higher technology. Nitrogen concentration and uptake were higher in dry bean grains compared with shoot and 63% of N accumulated at zero N rate and 75% N accumulated at 400 mg N rate were translocated to grain across 20 genotypes. Nitrogen uptake efficiencies were having highly significant (P < 0.01) quadratic relationship with grain yield. This indicates that improving N uptake in dry bean plants can increase grain yield.     

Vanadium induced manganese toxicity in bush bean plants grown in solution culture

Seedlings of two bush bean cultivars (Phaseolus vulqaris L. cvs. Mn‐sensitive ‘Wonder Crop 2’ and Mn‐tolerant ‘Green Lord') were grown for 14 days in full strength Hoagland No. 2 nutrient solution containing 0.05 ‐ 2 mg L^‐1 of vanadium (V) as ammonium vanadate.

Increasing V concentration in the solution decreased total dry weight of both cultivars. Plant tops were stunted and leaf color became dark green at 1 ‐ 2 mg L^‐1 V, especially in ‘Green Lord’. Veinal necrosis similar to that of Mn toxicity was observed in the primary leaves of ‘Wonder Crop 2’ at 0.2 mg L^‐1 V or above, but not in those of ‘Green Lord’.

The V concentrations in the roots increased exponentially with increasing V concentration in the solution; however, V concentrations in the leaves and stems were not affected. The Mn concentrations in the primary leaves increased under the higher V treatment in ‘Wonder Crop 2'; but not in ‘Green Lord’. In contrast, Fe concentration in the leaves of ‘Wonder Crop 2’ decreased markedly with increasing V concentration in the solution. Enhanced Mn uptake and greater reduction of Fe uptake by ‘Wonder Crop 2’ may explain the incidence of V‐induced Mn toxicity.     

Iron metabolism in higher plants. The influence of nutrient iron on bean leaf lipoxygenase

Bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were cultured in nutrient solutions containing three concentrations of iron. The leaves of plants grown with a limiting supply of iron contained reduced levels of protein, chlorophyll and the iron‐containing enzyme, lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.12). Measurements of lipoxygenase made on leaf crude extracts did not correlate with iron supply; however, upon purification of the enzyme by affinity chromatography, a direct correlation was observed. The lack of correlation was partly due to the presence of chlorophyll, an inhibitor of lipoxygenase, in the crude extract. Lipoxygenase levels changed with age of the plants, but rose to a maximum at days 14–16. A comparison of leaf lipoxygenases grown with different iron supply showed that they were identical with the same pH profile, chlorophyll inhibition, reaction products, and electrophoretic mobility. It is suggested that lipoxygenase may be used as a probe to evaluate iron availability and to investigate iron metabolism in higher plants.     

Yield and yield components of two irrigated red bean cultivars and some soil properties as influenced by wheat residues and nitrogen management

Crop residues are beneficial substances affecting crop production and soil properties. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residue rates (0, 25, 50 and 75%) combined with N levels (0, 34.5, 69, 103.5 kg ha^?1) on yield and yield components of two red common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars and to monitor chemical soil parameters. The experiment was conducted at Research Center, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran for two years (2008–2009). The experiment was conducted as a split–split plot arranged in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The highest seed yield was obtained when 25–50% of residues were incorporated. The highest seed yield, seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight and seed number per pod were obtained with 103.5 kg N ha^?1 with no significant difference to 69 kg N ha^?1. Residue incorporation significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) as well as available K and P content. It is possible to sow red common bean as a double cropping by soil incorporation of 25–50% wheat residues with application of 69 kg N ha^?1.     

Synergistic effect of inoculating plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas spp. and Rhizobium leguminosarum-FB1 on growth and nutrient uptake of rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) Pseudomonas lurida-NPRp15 and Pseudomonas putida-PGRs4 possessing multiple plant growth-promoting traits were isolated from rhizoplane of pea and rhizosphere of garlic, respectively. The effects of individuals and combinations of Pseudomonas spp. with effective root nodulating symbiotic nitrogen fixing Rhizobium leguminosarum-FB1 on plant growth, nutrient uptake and yield of the rajmash plant were studied under greenhouse conditions. Bacterial inoculation resulted in significantly higher values for plant dry biomass, N, P, K, Zn and Fe contents as compared to the uninoculated control. Furthermore, dual inoculation of P. lurida-NPRp15 with R. leguminosarum-FB1 significantly increased root and shoot dry weight, nodulation, nutrient uptake, pod yield, and nutrient content of pods of rajmash VL63 compared to controls, single and triple inoculation. The results of the study indicate the potential of harnessing the benefit of plant growth-promoting and nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to improve the growth and yield of rajmash.     

Low root zone temperature effects on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants inoculated with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli pre-incubated with methyl jasmonate and/or genistein

Abstract

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has recently been shown to act as a plant-to-bacteria signal. We tested the hypothesis that pre-induction of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli cells with genistein and/or MeJA would at least partially overcome the negative effects of low root zone temperature (RZT) on bean nodulation, nitrogen fixation and plant growth. Otebo bean plants were grown at constant air temperature (25^oC) and two RZT regimes (25 and 17^oC) and inoculated with R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli pre-induced with MeJA and/or genistein. Our results indicate that low RZT inhibited nodulation, nitrogen fixation and plant growth. The plants growing at low RZT began fixing nitrogen seven days later compared to those at higher RZT. The low RZT plants had fewer nodules, lower nodule weight, less N fixation, slower plant growth, fewer leaves, smaller leaf area, and less dry matter accumulation comared to plants at a higher RZT. Rhzobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli cells induced with genistein and/or MeJA enhanced bean nodulation, nitrogen fixation and growth at both optimum and suboptimum RZTs. The results of this study indicate that MeJA improves bean nitrogen fixation and growth at both optimum and suboptimum RZTs, and can be used alone or in combination with genistein to partially overcome the low RZT induced inhibitory effects on nodulation and nitrogen fixation.     

Diurnal patterns of nitrate assimilation in Kentucky bluegrass

Kentucky bluegrass (Poapratensis L.) is a major C₃‐type forage and turfgrass, but it is less efficient than many grasses in utilizing nitrogen(N). To determine how this grass can accommodate its greater N need, diurnal patterns of nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and nitrite reductase activity (NiRA) in its leaves and roots were examined and compared with those in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Plants were grown under greenhouse or growth room conditions and assayed for NRA and NiRA by optimized in vivo methods. The diurnal patterns of NRA and NiRA indicated that Kentucky bluegrass could assimilate nitrate during the night at rates greater than or similar to those during the day. Leaf NRA of Kentucky bluegrass was minimal approximately 4 and 10 h after illumination commenced and increased at night. The diurnal pattern of leaf NRA among Kentucky bluegrass cultivars did not differ significantly. In roots, NRA of Kentucky bluegrass was high in the morning and decreased sharply during the afternoon and evening, but increased again late at night. Unlike Kentucky bluegrass, barley exhibited greater leaf NRA during the day than during the night and exhibited the greatest activity 6 or 10 h after illumination commenced. In both species, the equilibrium leaf nitrate pool was 20 to 30 times larger than the ammonium pool and 3, 000 to 13, 000 times larger than the nitrite pool. Leaf nitrate pool size showed a diurnal pattern complementary to that of leaf NRA. Our results suggest that a nighttime N use strategy might exist in Kentucky bluegrass.     

DRY BEAN GENOTYPES EVALUATION FOR GROWTH,YIELD COMPONENTS AND PHOSPHORUS USE EFFICIENCY

Dry bean along with rice is a staple food for the population of South America. In this tropical region beans are grown on Oxisols and phosphorus (P) is one of the most yield limiting factors for dry bean production on these soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate P use efficiency in 20 elite dry bean genotypes grown at deficient (25 mg P kg^?1 soil) and sufficient (200 mg P kg^?1) levels of soil P. Grain yields and yield components were significantly increased with P fertilization and, interspecific genotype differences were observed for yield and yield components. The grain yield efficiency index (GYEI) was having highly significant quadratic association with grain yield. Based on GYEI most P use efficient genotypes were CNFP 8000, CNFP 10035, CNFP10104, CNFC 10410, CNFC 9461, CNFC 10467, CNFP 10109 and CNFP 10076 and most inefficient genotypes were CNFC 10438, CNFP 10120, CNFP 10103, and CNFC 10444. Shoot dry weight, number of pods per plant, 100-grain weights and number of seeds per pod was having significant positive association with grain yield. Hence, grain yield of dry bean can be improved with the improvement of these plant traits by adopting appropriate management practices. Soil pH, extractable P and calcium (Ca) saturation were significantly influenced by P treatments. Based on regression equation, optimum pH value in water was 6.6, optimum P in Mehlich 1 extraction solution was 36 mg kg^?1 and optimum Ca saturation value was 37% for dry maximum bean yield.