Effect of Rhizobium inoculation and supplementation with phosphorus and potassium on growth and total leaf chlorophyll (Chl) content of bush bean Phaseolus vulgaris, L.

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of Rhizobium inoculation and supplementation of phosphorus and potassium on growth and total leaf chlorophyll content to the three released bush bean varieties in northern Tanzania. To achieve this aim, the glasshouse experiment was conducted at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology while field experiment were carried out at Tanzania Coffee Research Institute, in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania between April July 2014. The experiment was laid out in factorial arrangement. Factor I comprised of three bush bean varieties. Factor II involved two inoculation treatments viz 1) inoculation with Rhizobium spp. and 2) without inoculation. Factor III included four fertilizer levels (0 Kg∙ha−1 20 Kg K ha−1, 30 Kg P ha−1 and 20 kg∙K + 30 Kg P ha−1). Both screen house and field experiments were replicated four times. Plant growth parameters (plant height (cm), number leaves per plant, stem girth (mm)) were measured at 2, 4 and 6 weaks after planting (WAP). The chlorophyll was extracted by using Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and absorbance was determined at 645 and 663nm using UV/Visible spectrophotometer. Results showed that Rhizobium application significantly improved the num ber of leaves per plant, plant height, pant girth and total leaf chlorophyll content. Furthermore, compared with the zero treatment control, potassium fertilization significantly increased the num ber of leaves per plant, plant height, pant girth and total leaf chlorophyll content of the three va rieties. In general, these parameters were significantly increased with phosphorus supplied at 30 kg/ha. The combination of these supplies at different levels resulted in significant interactions in some parameters and thus indicating need for these inputs in the study area.