YIELD AND SEED QUALITY OF COMMON BEAN UNDER ORGANIC FARMING SYSTEM

Abstract

In this study, the field experiment was carried out during the two growing seasons of 2016 and 2017, at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Qaliobia Governorate, Egypt, in order to investigate the effect of biofertilizer inoculation (BIO: RHI, AMF, RHI+AMF and control) and seaweed extract (SWE, 0, 1, 2 , 4 g/L) on vegetative growth, productivity and quality of common bean seed (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Seeds of common bean “Nebraska” cultivar were sown on the 1st of March 2016 and 2017 seasons. Biofertilizer treatments (BIO): arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF): Before sowing, common bean seeds were soaked in mycorrhizae (Glomus sp.). Rhizobium inoculation (RHI): After the first irrigation (furrow irrigation), added Rhizobium Phaseolus. Seaweed extract was used at four concentrations, i.e., zero (control, sprayed with tap water) dose of one, two and four g/l, applied after 30, 45 and 60 days from sowing days as a foliar application. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replicates. The applied biofertilizer treatments were assigned in the main plots, and foliar applications of seaweed extract were devoted in the sub plots. 1. Vegetative characteristics: • Vegetative growth of common bean responded positively to Bio treatments. Seeds common bean soaked in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) plus rhizobium inoculation (RHI) increased significantly plant length, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plan, leaf area, stem fresh weight and chlorophyll reading in the two seasons. • Foliar application of SWE at a concentration of 2 or 4 g/l significantly enhanced plant length, stem diameter, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plan, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of leaves and stem and chlorophyll reading as compared with the other SWE treatments.