The response of runner bean crop to irrigation and fertilization

Abstract

Currently there is a growing interest both in obtaining large agricultural yields in order to provide food for a growing population as well as in increasing the sustainability of production systems by improving the health of the soil. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic versus chemical fertilization versus irrigation on runner bean crop and soil health. A bi-factorial field experiment was organized in a split plot design with three replicates during two years (2019 and 2020). The first factor, irrigation, had two graduations: irrigated with 3000 m3/ha (Ir) and non-irrigated (Non-Ir). The second factor, fertilization, had four graduations: biosolids (1200 kg/ha) (B), chemical (360 kg/ha) (Ch), microorganism (80 kg/ha) (M) and unfertilized (Unfert). The results showed that, regarding the physiological state of the plants, both the photosynthesis and the chlorophyll content were higher at Ir x M (5.31 µmol CO2/m2s2 and 45.23 SPAD units, respectively). The yield of dried beans ranged between 1476-4811 kg/ha in 2019 and 1498-4727 kg/ha in 2020 and was highest for Ir x Ch. Soil health status estimated by determining the dehydrogenase activity in the soil, has been improved for irrigated (Ir) and fertilized (B, M, Ch) variants.