ARS | Publication request: YEILD NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AS INFLUENCED BY LIMING AND BORON APPLICATION IN COMMON BEAN IN NOTILAGE SYSTEM

Submitted to: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 14, 2007
Publication Date: July 14, 2007
Citation: Fageria, N.K., Baligar, V.C., Zobel, R.W. 2007. Yeild nutrient uptake and soil chemical properties as influenced by liming and boron application in common bean in notilage system. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 38:1-17.

Interpretive Summary: Acid soils and low soil fertility are the main yield-limiting factors in most bean producing regions of the tropics. Liming is the main practice used to reduce soil acidity and improving yields of bean crop. However, in Brazil, boron (B) deficiency is widespread and its availability is reduced with the application of lime. Field experiments were set up in central Brazil to evaluate the applications of lime and boron on bean yields under a no-till system. We found that production of common beans could be increased significantly with lime and supplemental B application. These findings will be useful to bean growers, extension people and agronomists working to achieve sustainable bean production on infertile acid soils.

Technical Abstract: In Oxisols, acidity is the principal limiting factor for crop production. In recent years due to intensive cropping on these soils, deficiency of micronutrients is increasing. Field experiment was conducted on an Oxisol during three consecutive years to assess the response of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under no-tillage system to varying rates of lime (0, 12 and 24 Mg ha-1) and boron (0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 24 kg ha-1) application. Both lime and boron were applied as broadcast and incorporated in to the soil at the beginning of the study. Changes in selected soil chemical properties in the soil profile (0–10 and 10–20 cm depths) with liming were also determined. During all three years, gain yields increased significantly with the application of lime. However B application significantly increased common bean yield only in the first crop. Only lime application significantly affected the soil chemical properties (pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, H++Al3+, base saturation, acidity saturation, cation exchange capacity, % saturation of Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and ratios of exchangeable Ca/Mg, Ca/K, and Mg/K) at both the soil depth (0-10 cm and 10–20 cm). A positive significant association was observed between grain yield and soil chemical properties. Averaged across two depths and three crops, common bean produced maximum grain yield at soil pHw of 6.7, exchangeable (cmolc kg-1) of Ca2+ 4.9, Mg2+ 2.2, H++Al3+ 2.6, acidity saturation of 27.6%, CEC of 4.1cmolc kg-1, base saturation of 72 %, Ca saturation of 53.2 %, Mg saturation of 17.6 %, K saturation of 2.7 %, Ca/Mg ratio of 2.8, Ca/K ratio of 25.7, and Mg/K ratio of 8.6. Soil organic matter did not change significantly with addition of lime.