Abstract
Common bean production in Tanzania is constrained by soil phosphorus which is mainly due to inherently low phosphorus content, soil erosion, and fixation by oxides in acidic soils. A study was conducted to evaluate bean genotypes in a screen house pot experiment for their ability to thrive and produce on low phosphorus soil. Assessment of shoot biomass, root biomass, shoot P concentration, P uptake, and yield components was done using three phosphorus levels and seven bean genotypes. Phosphorus levels, namely, control (P0), medium P (40 mg P/kg), and high P (160 mg P/kg), were the main plot factor, while the genotypes were the subplot in split plot structure, arranged in a completely randomized design. Shoot and root biomass as well as P uptake increased significantly with increase in phosphorus levels. There was varying response of genotypes in performance in terms of shoot biomass P uptake, and yield in a treatment without P addition. Genotypes MILENIO, BAT477, and A785 were outstanding in terms of root and shoot biomass, P uptake and grain yield under low P treatment. Therefore, those genotypes can be recommended for use in low-phosphorus environment as well as breeding materials.
Highlights
Bean production in Tanzania is undertaken by small-scale farmers for household consumption, surplus of which is traded for cash
Soil fertility problems for common bean production can be overcome by growing crop plants which are adapted to low fertility condition in circumstances where other soil amendment strategies are not readily practical
This study revealed that common bean genotypes differ in production of root and shoot biomass as well as phosphorus uptake
Summary
Bean production in Tanzania is undertaken by small-scale farmers for household consumption, surplus of which is traded for cash. Bean yields are low due to diseases and low soil fertility, phosphorus deficiency [1, 2]. The declining soil phosphorus in Tanzania is due to continued nutrient mining without replenishment. It is estimated that beans remove 12.5 kg P/ha which is higher than additions in terms of phosphorus fertilisation by resource-poor farmers [3]. It has been reported that soils in major bean growing areas of Tanzania have very low concentrations of extractable phosphorus ranging from 1.6 to 3.1 mg P/kg soil [4]. Phosphorus deficiency can be overcome by corrective soil fertility amendment strategies such as application of phosphatic fertilizers and liming of acidic soils
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