African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6863

Full Length Research Paper

Broadcast fertilizer rate impacts common bean grain yield in a no-tillage system

Mabio Chrisley Lacerda
  • Mabio Chrisley Lacerda
  • Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA ), Rice and Beans Research Center, P. O. Box 179, 75375-000, Santo Antonio de Goias, State of Goias, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Adriano Stephan Nascente
  • Adriano Stephan Nascente
  • Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA ), Rice and Beans Research Center, P. O. Box 179, 75375-000, Santo Antonio de Goias, State of Goias, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Maria da Conceicao Santana Carvalho
  • Maria da Conceicao Santana Carvalho
  • Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA ), Rice and Beans Research Center, P. O. Box 179, 75375-000, Santo Antonio de Goias, State of Goias, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Vitor Henrique Vaz Mondo
  • Vitor Henrique Vaz Mondo
  • Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA ), Rice and Beans Research Center, P. O. Box 179, 75375-000, Santo Antonio de Goias, State of Goias, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 20 January 2013
  •  Accepted: 26 March 2015
  •  Published: 02 April 2015

Abstract

Increasing fertilizer rates at sowing can provide significant increases in grain yield in vegetable crops. However, very high rates can impair root development because of increased soil salinization in the rows mainly because of KCl fertilizer. Broadcast fertilization without incorporation into soil may be a viable strategy to avoid this salinization. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine the effect of different fertilizer rates applied to the soil surface without incorporation on common bean grain yield and yield components in a no-tillage system. An irrigated field experiment with a randomized block experimental design with four replications was conducted in Brazil during the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons. The treatments consisted of four fertilizer rates of an N-P-K blend that were 0, 50, 100 (15 kg ha-1 of N, 90 kg ha-1 of P2O5 and 45 kg ha-1 of K2O) and 150% of the recommended fertilizer rate for in-furrow applications. Increasing broadcast fertilizer application provided a significant increase in common bean grain yield. The application of 300 kg ha-1 of fertilizer (100% of the recommended fertilizer rate) on the soil surface without incorporation provided a similar result as the application of the same amount in the seed row. The results document that broadcast application of a fertilizer blend on the soil surface without incorporation is a viable management tool to increase common bean grain yield in no-tillage systems in soil with high fertility, which is based mainly on its content of organic matter, phosphorus, and base saturation.

 

Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris L., surface fertilization, Cerrado, no-tillage system.