Root and Shoot Development of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (French Beans) as Affected by Soil Moisture and Fertilizer Potassium

The development of an extensive root system enables plants to overcome water stress. However, there is little information on the response of food legumes to soil moisture, especially during early growth, which determines crop establishment. Thus, an experiment was conducted under controlled conditions to identify the effect of soil moisture and fertilizer potassium on root and shoot growth of french beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seedlings. The seedlings were grown in a sand medium under a high and low soil moisture regime and with 0.1, 0.8 or 3.0 mM potassium.
Root lengths, dry weights and numbers of root hairs were greater under low soil moisture conditions. Potassium increased root growth irrespective of soil moisture regimes. The impact of potassium on root length was more pronounced under a high soil moisture regime. In contrast, potassium increased root dry weights and root hairs to a greater extent when plants were grown under dry conditions. The lack of adequate soil moisture increased specific leaf weights, and this phenomenon was reduced by the application of potassium. Shoot:root ratios also showed a similar phenomenon. The development of an extensive root system by french bean seedlings under dry conditions to extract a greater quantity of available soil moisture fur establishment and plant growth and the ability of potassium to promote this phenomenon is presented in this study.