YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF SNAP BEAN IN TERMS OF BIOFERTILIZATION

Abstract

Snap bean crop responds to nitrogen (N) supply, so in this study a combination of fertilizer and biofertilizer to increase snap bean biomass, yield and nutritional value was tested. The experiment was established in the State of Mexico, under a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments were: 0, 100 and 200 kg N ha-1, biofertilizer (mixture of Rhizobium etli with Glomus intraradices), and the combination of N with biofertilizer. There were no differences in phenology (P > 0.05) as a result of fertilizers. Treatment with biofertilizer + 200 kg ha-1 N had the highest yield, number of snap beans and percentage of protein (2131 g m-2, 486 snap beans m2 and 22 %, respectively), and the lowest values were obtained in the control group (983 g m-2, 278 snap beans m-2 and 20.5 %, respectively). Biofertilizer + 200 kg ha-1 N resulted in the highest total biomass (649 g m-2), and the control group in the lowest (150 g m-2). The highest harvest index (46 %) was found with the application of biofertilizer + 100 kg ha-1 N.