Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Bush Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Contender) as Affected by the Application of Different Organic Amendments

Abstract

The study was conducted at the University Experiment Station in a La Trinidad loam soil at Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet, from December 2015 to May 2016. The soil and plant tissue analyses were done at the Laboratory of the Department of Soil Science of the College of Agriculture. The study aimed to determine the effect of the different organic amendments on the biological nitrogen fixation in bush beans, growth and yield in bush beans and on the nitrogen content of the soil. At flowering stage, plant height of bush bean was significantly affected by the application of the different organic amendments while the fresh weight, dry matter yield, plant tissue N and N-uptake were not significantly affected; likewise, root nodulation was not significantly affected. At harvest, the height, fresh weight, dry matter yield, plant tissue N, root nodulation and pod yield were not significantly affected by the application of the different organic amendments; however, N-uptake was significantly affected with calliandra giving the highest value of 584.41 mg/ plant.