The Effect of Direct Use of Lakeside Biomass as Soil Amendment on the Productivity of Dry Bean Crop

Abstract

The riparian areas of the lake Mikri Prespa in the northwest of Greece are surrounded by extensive reedbeds (mainly Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia reed) that spread around the perimeter of the lake. The removal of this vegetation is often problematic and imposes difficulties in management and costs. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the direct use of reed biomass on soil fertility and the performance of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) type "Plake", the main crop in the Prespa region. In a two year field experimentation we tested two fertilization methods, manure and chemical fertilization, combined with three reed biomass doses (0 as a control, 10 tn ha -1 and 20 tn ha -1 ) resulting in five different reed addition treatments (0-0, 10-10, 10-0, 20-20 and 20-0 for the two consecutive years and each fertilization method respectively). Total chlorophyll content measured from start of flowering until physiological maturity was not affected by the incorporation of reed biomass in both fertilization methods. The chemical fertilization significantly affected bean yield exceeding the application of manure in all treatments of reed plant material addition. Reed plant addition treatments affected bean yield with all treatments showing higher values compared to the control (0-0) while the addition of 20 tn ha -1 for one year (20-0) significantly exceeded the control regardless of the fertilization method. Further research is needed to explore the best agricultural practice on the effect of reed addition on arable land improvement and the bean crop.