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Effect of Soil Fumigation on N 2 ‐Fixation and Yield of Field Bean When Grown on Fusarium‐Infested Soils 1
Author(s) -
Bezdicek D. F.,
Vigue G. T.,
Burke D.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1981.00021962007300060037x
Subject(s) - fumigation , phaseolus , agronomy , biology , loam , fusarium solani , nitrogen fixation , horticulture , chloropicrin , soil water , ecology , genetics , bacteria
Nodulation in field beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is poor in root‐rot infested soils of the Columbia Basin of central Washington. Studies were initiated to determine if nodulation and N 2 ‐fixation rate were improved after fumigation and reduction in root rot. The effect of fumigation on nodulation and bean yield was studied in the field where N and three strains of Rhizobium phaseoli were applied to field beans grown in a Warden fine sandy loam soil (Xeroilic Camborthids) infested with root rot ( Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli ). Early nodulation with one strain but not yield, increased significantly with inoculation. Fumigation with 400 kg/ha of chloropicrin significantly increased shoot weight, root weight, and total N uptake throughout the season and decreased the incidence of root rot. Fumigation increased seed yields by an average of 1,800 kg/ha in 1975 and 900 kg/ha in 1976. In general, N(C 2 H 2 )‐fixation rate was not significantly increased by either inoculation or fumigation. Only after adding a high rate of inoculum to the fumigated plots was the N 2 (C 2 H 2 )‐fixation rate increased at one of four sampling dates. It would appear that the major increase in plant growth and seed yield following fumigation was due to a reduction in root rot rather than from an increase in nodulation or N 2 (C 2 H 2 )‐fixation rate. Nitrogen application of 112 kg/ha of N in 1975 and 135 kg/ha of N in 1976 did not increase yields in either fumigated or non‐fumigated soils.