Effect of liquid bio-slurry and nitrogen rates on soil physico-chemical properties and quality of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at Hawassa Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Green bean is one of the widely cultivated crops in developing countries. However, its cultivation is constrained by low soil fertility. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of LBS and N rates on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of green bean at Hawassa, Ethiopia. Four levels of LBS (0, 20.6, 41.2 and 61.8 m3/ha) and four N levels (0, 20.5, 41 and 61.5 kg/ha) were used in factorial RCBD with three replications. Results revealed that the application of LBS and N rates significantly affected most parameters. The application of LBS (20.6 m3/ha) and N (41 kg/ha) increased CEC by 120% as compared to control. Similarly the application of LBS (41.2 m3ha−1) and N (20.5 kg/ha) gives the highest OC as compared to control. The addition of 41 N and 20.6 m3/ha LBS also scored the highest (14.3 t/ha) total pod yield as compared to control. Therefore 41 N with 20.6 m3/ha recommended both soil and green bean improvement.

Keywords

• green bean
• liquid bio-slurry
• nitrogen
• yield components