Effect of liquid bio-slurry and nitrogen rates on soil physico-chemical properties and quality of green bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> 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.