Effect of Ridging and Earley‐Season Cultivation on Bean Yield1

Abstract

AbstractIt has been observed! that small differences in the type and timing of ridging and subsequent early cultivation of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) had seemingly large influences on yields. Since little information was available to substantiate or to give reasons for this observation, the study was undertaken.Three ridging and cultivation treatments, imposed near planting time, were conducted to determine the effect on pinto bean yield. The ridging treatments were: preemergence (ridged just: before plants emerged), plantingridge (ridged at planting time), postemergence (ridged after plants emerged), and control. The preemergence treatment was cultivated once, after ridging just prior to the first irrigation. The planting‐ridge and postemergence treatments were cultivated twice after ridging and prior to the first irrigation, and the control treatment was not cultivated after planting except for furrowing prior to the first irrigation. The yields of both bean seed and total dry matter were significantly influenced by all treatments, with the following ranking: preemergence > planting‐ridge > postemergence > control. The treatment effect was correlated with soil water content above 15 on in early season and root rot infection but not with soil temperature. Similar consistent results were found for three planting dates. The planting date yields were ranked latest > intermediate > earliest.