Phosphorus and Boron Application Optimizing Biofortification of P and Productivity of French Bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i>L.)
Imran, Amanullah
Abstract
Deficiency of macro and micro nutrients, especially phosphorus (P) and boron (B), reduce french bean growth, productivity, and ultimately nutrient bio-fortification, and ultimately effects human and livestock health. Limited supplies of P reduces roots growth, development, elongation and ultimately nutrients uptake while B deficiency cause faintness in plant defensive mechanism and grain development in cereal and legumes. Application of B in combination with P act as a bio-stimulant which improves biological and chemo-physical properties of the soil. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of P and B application on the yield and yield component of french bean in the far-flung hilly area of different elevation (Madyan and Behrain) during summer 2012 to 2014. French bean variety “Paulista” was sown on a well-prepared clay loam soil. The effect of phosphorus was significantly (P < .05) increased bean yield and growth parameters such as phosphorus concentration in french bean, number of plants m−2, plant height (cm), number of leaves plant−1, number of pods plant−1, number of seeds plant−1, pods length (cm), thousand seeds weight (g), seed yield (kg ha−1) bean yield and harvest index (%). Combine effect of P and B was found significant for number of plants m−2, plant height (cm), number of leaves plant−1, pods length (cm), numbers of seeds pod−1, number of pods plants−1, thousand seed weight, seed yield and harvest index. Based on results obtained from this experiment, application of 80 kg P ha−1 and 12 kg boron ha−1 application is recommended for better production of haricot bean.