EFFECT OF IRRIGATION INTERVALS AND SOME FOLIAR APPLICATION TREATMENTS ON DRY BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS . L) GROWTH, SEED YIELD AND QUALITY

Abstract

Strategies such as foliar application of salicylic acid and potassium show particular possibilities for conserving irrigation water, aiding plant survival under dry conditions. In this study, two field experiments were carried out during the summer seasons of 2014 and 2015, to examine the response of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris .L) plants to the foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) at 10 and 20 ppm as well as potassium sulphate at 1 and 2% under three irrigation intervals i.e. 8, 12 or 16 days. The obtained results indicated that irrigation every 8 days improved vegetative growth in terms of plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant fresh and dry weights as well seed yield and quality i.e. germination percentage , mean germination time, seedling root length and seedling vigor index . All used foliar treatments i.e. salicylic acid at 10 and 20 ppm as well potassium sulphate at 1 and 2% improved vegetative growth ,seed yield and its quality. Foliar application with SA at 20 ppm was the best treatment in this regard. The interactions between irrigation every 8 days and foliar application with SA at 20 ppm gave the highest values of the studied vegetative, seed yield and quality characters. For obtaining high seed yield and quality of bean plants it could be recommended that, irrigation should be done every 8 days and plants should be sprayed with salicylic acid at 20 ppm three times during the growing season at 3, 5 and 7 weeks after sowing. However, in case of water shortage it is possible to extend the irrigation interval up to 16 days with three times foliar application of salicylic acid at 20 ppm to ameliorate the drought stress without decreasing the yield.