Irrigated common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) performance on calcareous alkaline soils as influenced by previous crops in North of Sudan

This study examines the ability of different cropping sequence (including or not including alfalfa) to improve bean productivity in calcareous and alkaline soils of the old Nile (high) terraces in North of Sudan. The soil in the experimental site is sandy clay to sandy clay loom. Soil properties were examined before planting and after bean harvest. Salinity which was greater in non-reclaimed soil decreased regardless of the cropping sequence. Soil alkalinity remain higher than 8 in all cropping sequence after more than 6-7 cropping seasons. P (Olsen) and calcium carbonate showed inconsistent trends regardless of the cropping sequence. Organic carbon increased after bean cultivation in both cropping sequence. Change in growth parameters as affected by cropping sequence were significant in various levels, however, that determining yield were not. Presence of alfalfa in the cropping sequence increased seed yield, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pods, pod length, plant length, leaf length, leaf width, fresh plant weight, nodule number. However seed weight was decreased.

___

  • Attar, H.A., Blavet, D., Selim, E.M., Abdelhamid, M.T., Drevon, J.J., 2012. Relationship between phosphorus status and nitrogen fixation by common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under drip irrigation. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 9(1): 1–13.
  • Buursink, J., 1971. Soils of central Sudan. Grafisch Bedrijf Schotanus & Jens Utrecht N.V. 248p.
  • Ceyhan, E., Kahraman, A., Avci, M.A., Dalgic, H., 2014. Combining ability of bean genotypes estimated by line x tester analysis under highly-calcareous soils. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences 24(2): 579-584.
  • Elhagwa, A, Richter, C., Gedamu, A., 2007. Properties of new reclaimed soils in the Merowi irrigation project of North Sudan. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics 108(2): 113–121.
  • Elhagwa, A., 2010. Climatic variation and its effect on general properties of soils of Sudan. The Fourth International Conference on Agriculture and Rural Development. Saudi Society for Agricultural Sciences. Faculty of Science of Food and Agriculture, King Saud University, 4-7 April 2011, Hail, Saudi Arabia [in Arabic].
  • Estefan, G., Sommer, R., Ryan, J., 2014. Analytical methods for soil-plant and water in the dry areas. A Manual of Relevance to the West Asia and North Africa Region. 3rd Edition, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo, 255 p.
  • Ibrahim, M.M.M., Dafalla, M.S., Elhag, A.M.H, Ibrahim, I.S., 2013. Monitoring, predicting and quantifying soil salinity, sodicity and alkalinity in Sudan, using soil techniques, remote sensing and GIS Analysis, Case study: University of Khartoum top farm. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications 3(3): 1-7.
  • Leytem, A.B., Mikkelsen, R.L., 2005. The nature of phosphorus in calcareous soils. Better Crops 89 (2): 11-13. Available at [access date: 23.08.2017]: https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/14/1/1159.pdf
  • Michiels, J., Dombrecht, B., Vermeiren, N., Xi, C., Luyten, E., Vanderleyden, J., 1998. Phaseolus vulgaris is a non-selective host for nodulation. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 26(3): 193-205.
  • Patel, D.H., Milan, M., 2013. Study of presence of available phosphorus in soil of Kalol-Godhra taluka territory. Archives of Applied Science Research 5(4): 24-29.
  • SAS Institute Inc. 2003. SAS/STAT User’s Guide, Version 9.1.
  • Vargas, A.A.T., Graham, P.H., 1988. Phaseolus vulgaris cultivar and Rhizobium strain variation in acid-pH tolerance and nodulation under acid conditions. Field Crops Research 19: 91–101.