Intercropping and Rhizobium Inoculation Affected Microclimate and Performance of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Hawassa, during the 2020 cropping season with the objective to evaluate the impact of maize-common bean intercropping and Rhizobium inoculation on microclimate, growth, and yield of common bean varieties. Treatments consisting of two common bean varieties, two levels of inoculation and three spatial arrangements of common bean with another sole maize were laid out in a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results revealed that the main effect of spatial arrangements highly significantly ( P < 0.001) affected soil and leaf temperature. Soil moisture content was improved under intercropped plots compared with sole cropping. The intensity of light and qualities, such as red, far-red, and photosynthetically active radiations (μmol m−2 s−1) and ultraviolet rays (UV)-A, UV-B (W m−2), were reduced under intercropping as compared to the sole. Interaction effects of variety, spatial arrangements, and inoculation significantly ( P < 0.01) affected plant height and leaf area index. Inoculated sole Nassir outperformed for plant height and leaf area index. Inoculated sole Hawassa Dume variety performed best for nodule number plant−1, nodule dry weight plant−1, pods number plant−1, 100 seed weight, grain yield, and above-ground biomass yield. The highest grain yield (2.8 t ha−1) was recorded from inoculated sole Hawassa Dume. However, considering the equivalent ratio (LER), intercropping with one maize row to two haricot bean rows spatial arrangements was productive by 62% more than sole cropping (total land equivalent ratio of 1.62%).

Effect of intercropping on potato bacterial wilt disease and tuber yield in Kenya

“…These results are similar to what was reported by Victoria et al (2022); where it was noted that intercropping reduced disease progression in the field. Low AUDPC in potato intercrops may also be because of changes to microenvironments in which intercrops have been presumed to affect the humidity, temperature, and airflow of field microenvironments; thereby reducing the impact on the onset and development of diseases (Shemeles et al, 2022). This is an area that deserves more elaborate investigations with regards to the potato bacterial wilt, under Kenyan conditions.…”

Organomineral Fertilization Associated with Inoculation of Rhizobium tropici and Co-Inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense in Common Bean

“…Ref. [31] showed that some bean cultivars that are better adapted to rhizobial inoculation, in the same way that there are also soils that are not adapted to this practice. Considering this information, it is possible to observe that there is a difference between commercial bean cultivars; that is, cultivars considered more efficient for FBN may respond to native or exogenous rhizobia, while others may Analyzing the results found for W100 in the comparison between cultivars, it is possible to verify that there was a difference in their adaptation, either due to the type of treatment applied or the influence of seasonality and soil type; the genetic differences between the bean plants also influence results.…”

“…Ref. [31] showed that some bean cultivars that are better adapted to rhizobial inoculation, in the same way that there are also soils that are not adapted to this practice. Considering this information, it is possible to observe that there is a difference between commercial bean cultivars; that is, cultivars considered more efficient for FBN may respond to native or exogenous rhizobia, while others may adapt only to nitrogen fertilization.…”