Yield and water use efficiency of common bean fertilized with biochar / Produção e eficiência no uso de água do feijão comum adubado com biochar

Abstract

The municipality of São João is one of the largest producers of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Pernambuco, but has sandy soils with nutrient content and water retention low, which limits bean yield. Biochar has been used to increase water retention and may be an alternative for the region. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate different biochar rates on the yield, evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (EUA) of bean. A greenhouse pot experimente was conducted out using biochar, in a completely randomized design, with four repetitions. Treatments consisted in four rates of biochar made with coffee husk: 0, 5, 10 and 20 t ha-1. Biomass, ET and WUE of bean were evaluated. It was verified that there was a reduction of the ET with the increase of the rates of biochar. The rates of 11 and 12.1 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar provided higher yield and higher WUE of bean. For the cultivation of beans, in sandy soils of the agreste region of Pernambuco, the use of rate of 11 t ha-1 of coffee husk biochar is recommended.

Keywords

• sandy soil
• evapotranspiration
• soil water retention