Abstract

Yield losses in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) may occur due to boron (B) deficiency when the susceptible cultivars are grown in calcareous boron deficient soils. The study was therefore aimed at investigating the effects of three B doses: control (0.0 kg ha^-1), soil application (3.0 kg ha^-1) and foliar fertilization (0.3 kg ha^-1) on yield and some yield components of six common bean genotypes in the B deficient soil (with available 0.19 mg B kg^-1). Plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, seed yield, protein content, 100-seed weight and B concentration in leaf were studied. Yield was obtained higher B applied genotypes than those of check. Applications both of soil and foliar B increased yield average of 10 and 20%, respectively. Genotypes had the highest seed yield when B was foliar applied indicating that soil factors affected available B. The highest seed yield was obtained from KaracaÅŸehir-90 with 4078.2 kg ha^-1. Yunus-90 was found to be B tolerant, while the other genotypes appeared to be highly B sensitive. The result showed that B deficiency in common bean might lead to significant yield losses and foliar application should be advised.

Key words: Boron, common bean, foliar fertilization, seed yield, soil fertilization.