Table 1.
The effect o f artificially elevating the canopy of the indeterminate cultivar ‘Great Northern
V alley’ on the severity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and yield.
White mold
severity
Type o f support (% of foliage)
Trellis (0.96 m high) 31.0
Large tunnel (0.45 my high) 46.3
Small tunnel (0.27 m high) 55.6
Control (no support) 77.5
LSD 5% 9.1
zMean yields predicted using the regression equation presented by Kerr et al. (1978):
Yield (g/2 m row) = 228 + 1.9(WM) - 0.044(W M 2) with
WM = percentage of white mold disease severity.
yDistance from soil surface within the furrow to the highest point on the tunnel.
em Valley’ planted on 7 June 1982. Frequent
irrigation and field-corn windbreaks encir­
cling the plot improved the development of
microclimatic conditions favorable for dis­
ease development. Data was collected on dis­
ease severity (percentage of foliage infected)
and seed yield in a 2 .0 -m section of the center
row.
Plants grown on the trellis, as well as the
large wire tunnel, had nearly a 3-fold yield
advantage over the control, whereas the plants
grown on the small wire tunnel exhibited a 2 -
fold yield advantage over the control (Table
1). The degree of disease control of treatments
were in the sequence: trellis (least disease) >
large tunnel > small tunnel > control (most
disease). The decrease in white mold severity
was accompanied by an increase in yield
(r = —0.94, P < 1%). Regression analysis
showed a curvilinear relationship between yield
and disease severity as found by Kerr et al.
(3), through a 4-year survey of naturally in­
fected dry bean production fields in western
Nebraska. His prediction equation based on
percentage of white mold [yield = 228g +
1.9(WM) - 0.044(WM2)] was similar to the
best fit for our data [yield = 258g +
3.3(WM) —0.064(WM2)].
Artificial support increased disease avoid­
ance, but the effect of support on yield in the
absence of disease is unknown. However,
our observed yields were correlated highly
with the yields predicted on the basis of the
equation of Kerr et al. (3) using our severity
means [r = 0.99, P < 1%]. Thus, increas­
ing the extent of artificial support appeared
to have little effect on yield othfer than that
attributable to reducing the severity of dis­
ease. Coyne et al. (1) had speculated that
increased yield on trellis-grown beans was
due to both a reduction in disease severity
and in an increase in photosynthesis.
The dramatic decrease in disease severity
resulting from lifting the foliage off the soil
surface may be attributable to greater air
movement within and beneath the canopy.
Schwartz et al. (4) concluded that greater air
movement led to more rapid drying of the
foliage, thus preventing long periods of free
moisture necessary for infection. Further­
more, the tunnel-shaped openings may have
reduced the probability of senesced blossoms
from coming in contact with healthy foliage,
thus reducing effectively the number of po­
tential infection sites (6 ).
HortS cience, Vol . 19(1), February 1984
Literature Cited
1. Coyne, D .P ., J.R. Steadman, and F.A. An­
derson. 1974. Effects of modified plant ar­
Observed Predicted 7
chitecture of Great Northern dry bean varieties
yield yield
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on white mold sever­
(g/ 2 m row) (g/ 2 m row)
ity and components of yield. Plant Dis. Rpt.
276 271 58:379-382.
273 246 2. C oyne, D .P ., J.R . Steadm an, and H .F.
226 219 Schwartz. 1977. Reaction of Phaseolus dry
99 123 bean germplasm to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
9.7 Annu. Rpt. Bean Improv. Coop. 20:68-69.
3. Kerr, E .D ., J.R. Steadman, and L.A. Nelson.
1978. Estimates of white mold disease reduc­
tion of yield and components of dry edible
beans. Crop Sci. 18:275-279.
4. Schwartz, H .F., J.R. Steadman, and D.P.
Coyne. 1977. Blossom and canopy architec­
ture characteristics affect Sclerotinia sclero­
The results suggest that the tunnel effect tiorum. Annu. Rpt. Bean Improv. Coop. 20:70-
may contribute to disease avoidance without 71.
adversely affecting yield. Thus, a breeding 5. Steadman, J.R. 1977. Epidemiology and con­
strategy emphasizing the development of im­ trol o f Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in dry edible
beans. Rpt. Bean Improv. Coop. & Nat. Dry
proved architectural avoidance mechanisms,
Bean Res. Council. Nov. 8 -1 0 . p. 15-16.
such as the tunnel effect, should provide bet­ 6 . Steadman, J.R. 1979. Control of plant dis­
ter control than one based solely on the uti­ eases caused by Sclerotinia species. Phyto­
lization of physiological resistance. pathology 69:904-907.
H ortScience 1 9 (l):7 9 -8 0 . 1984.
Influence of Foliar-applied N 0 3 and
NH4 on Dry Matter and Nitrogen
Accumulation in Snap Beans
C.J. Busada, 1 Harry A. Mills, 2 and J.B. Jones, Jr . 3
Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
A d d itio n a l in d e x w o r d s . P h a s e o lu s v u l g a r i s , legume, solution culture
Abstract. Weekly foliar fertilizer applications of 10 ppm N 0 3-N [as Ca(No3)2] or NH4-
N [as (NH 4) 2S 0 4] significantly reduced dry matter, N accumulation, and yield of ‘Blue
Lake 274’ snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in solution culture. The reduction
in dry matter and N accumulation were greatest with the NH4-N vs. the NO 3-N foliar
treatment. Data obtained in this study indicates that the cultural practice of applying
NH 4 or N 0 3 fertilizer through an overhead irrigation system may reduce snap bean
yield.
Snap bean production in the sandy soils of peated foliar N fertilization greater than the
the Southern Coastal Plain in the southeastern 22.4 kg/ha rate currently employed in the
United States requires frequent irrigation and Southeast (2). Of equal consideration is the
the addition of N to obtain economical yields. potential detrimental effect of repeated foliar
Current cultural practices with snap beans applications of N solutions containing NH4
utilize a “ popup” fertilizer at planting and on snap bean growth. Previous studies have
then frequent N applications (11.2-22.4 kg/ shown that snap bean ( 1) and other legumes
ha-week) through the overhead irrigation sys­ (4, 5) are affected adversely when NH4 is
tem where center pivot irrigation is em­ the primary N form absorbed through the root
ployed. This method of applying N is system.
significant in that detrimental effects to snap The objective of this study was to evaluate
bean growth have been reported with re- weekly foliar applications of N fertilizer so­
lutions containing N 0 3 or NH4 ions applied
at the 22.4 kg/ha foliar rate (10 ppm) on dry
matter and N accumulation for snap bean.
Received for publication 22 Apr. 1983. This work Seedlings of ‘Blue Lake 274’ were trans­
was supported by Hatch 745. The cost of publish­
ferred into aerated, 14-liter vessels contain­
ing this paper was defrayed in part by the payment
of page charges. Under postal regulations, this pa­
ing a modified Hoagland’s solution at the
per therefore must be hereby marked advertisement first, true leaf stage. Each vessel contained
solely to indicate this fact. 3 plants which composed one treatment rep­
'Graduate Student. lication. The N content of the nutrient so­
2Associate Professor. lution was supplied in a 1:1 ratio of N 0 3:NH4
3 Professor of Horticulture. as Ca(N0 3) 2 and (NH4) 2S 0 4 with a total N
79
Table 1. Dry weight of roots, stems, leaves, and pods as influenced by weekly foliar treatments of
H 2 0 , or as 10 ppm N in the form of C a (N 0 3) 2 or (NH 4 ) 2 S 0 4.
Foliar _____________________________ Dry W1 (g)
treatment Root Stem Leaves Pods -1- seed Total
H ,0 10.5 a' 17.3 a 38.3 a 39.8 a 105.9 a
C a (N 0 3)o 8 . 2 ab 14.1 ab 32.5 b 2 1 .6 b 76.4 b
(n h 4 ) , s o 4 6.5 b 11 .0 b 21.7 c 2 2.1 b 61.3 c
'Mean separation within columns by Duncan’s multiple range test, 5% level.
concentration in the nutrient solution of 75 of tissues was determined potentiometrically
ppm for the first 3 weeks and 150 ppm for (6 ) and total N by semimicro Kjeldahl diges­
the remaining 3 weeks. Initial solution pH tion (3).
was 6.0 with no pH adjustments made during NH4-N foliar sprays significantly reduced
the 7-day period of use. Transpirational losses the dry weight of each plant component while
were replaced daily with deionized water. the foliar N 0 3-N treatment reduced only leaf
After 7 days of use, the ‘spent’ nutrient so­ dry weight and pod + seed yield in com­
lution was replaced with a fresh nutrient so­ parison to the H20 control (Table 1). Al­
lution. Plants were grown under greenhouse though the NH4-N foliar treatment had the
conditions for the 6 -week duration of the ex­ greatest effect on total plant dry weight in
periment (average day/night tempera­ comparison to the H20 control, N 0 3-N also
ture = 32°/21°C and daylength = 13.4 hr). reduced total plant dry weight with no visual
Foliar treatments consisted of weekly ap­ symptoms of salt damage to the foliage being
plications of either H20 (control) or a 10 ppm apparent with either N foliar application.
N solution of Ca(N0 3) 2 or (NH4) 2S 0 4, with The NH4-N foliar treatment reduced N ac­
the total rate of N not exceeding 2.5 mg N cumulation in all plant components in com­
applied/3 plants/week. The experimental de­ parison to the H20 control (Table 2). The
sign was a completely randomized block with N 0 3-N foliar treatment significantly reduced
4 replications. Data were subject to analysis N accumulation in the roots and stem in com­
of variance and Duncan’s multiple range test. parison to the H20 control. N accumulation
Plants were harvested when 75% of the in the leaves was not affected significantly
bean pods were at market maturity. Plants by the N 0 3-N foliar treatment; however, N
were separated into shoots (leaves + pe­ contained in the pod + seed component was
tioles), stems, roots, and pods + seeds, dried lower significantly in comparison to the H20
at 70°C and the dry weight of each plant control. Nitrate-N levels in the leaf tissue
component determined. Tissue was ground were higher with both N foliar groups in com­
to pass a 20-mesh screen. The nitrate content parison to the control. These high leaf N 0 3-
Table 2. N accumulation in roots, stems, leaves, pods, total plant N, and tissue N 0 3-N influenced
by weekly foliar treatments of H 2 0 , or as 10 ppm N in the form of C a(N 0 3) 2 or (NH 4 ) 2 S 0 4.
Leaf
Foliar _______________________N Content (g>______________________ NOr N
treatment Root Stem Leaves Pods + seed N total (mg)
H-,0 0.55 a' 0.82 a 1.6 6 a 1 .6 6 a 4.69 a 94 b
C a (N 0 3) 7 0.41 b 0 .6 8 b 1.71 a 1.03 b 3.83 b 304 a
(n h 4 ) 2 s o 4 0.37 b 0.50 c 1.31 b 0.96 b 3 .1 4 c 299 a
'Mean separation within columns by Duncan’s multiple range test, 5% level.
80
N levels indicate a significant reduction in N
assimilation occurring with both foliar N
treatments as more N 0 3-N was contained in
the leaf tissue than was applied in the foliar
treatment (2.5 mg/treatment-week) during the
6 -week experiment (Table 2).
N distribution was equal between the leaves
and the pods + seed with the H20 control
while the NH4-N and N 0 3-N foliar treatment
altered N distribution between the leaves and
pods + seed (Table 2). Dry weight parti­
tioning was influenced the greatest with the
N 0 3-N foliar treatment (Table 1).
Data from this study strongly suggests that
N 0 3-N and NH4-N applied at the 10-ppm
rate as a foliar treatment reduced snap bean
yield. The practice of applying N fertilizer
solutions at a 22.4 kg/ha rate (10 ppm) through
an overhead irrigation system with either N 0 3
or NH4 as the N source may be detrimental
to snap bean growth and yield without visual
symptoms of plant injury being apparent. This
cultural practice should be tested under field
conditions to evaluate more fully the influ­
ence of N 0 3 and NH4 ions applied in the
irrigation water to snap beans.
Literature Cited
1. Barker, A .V ., R.J. Volk, and W .A. Jackson.
1966. Growth and nitrogen distribution pat­
terns in bean plants. (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
subjected to ammonium nutrition. I. Effects
of carbonates and acidity control. Soil Sci.
Soc. Amer. Proc. 30:228-232.
2. Deuman, P.M. and M. Giskin. 1979. Late
season foliar fertilization of beans with NPKS:
effects of cytokinins, calcium and spray fre­
quency. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 10:579-
589.
3. Eastin, E.F. 1978. Use of an autoanalyzer for
total nitrogen determination in plants. Comm.
Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 9:107-113.
4. Jones, J .B ., Jr., H .A . M ills, and W .S .
McElhannon. 1982. Changing nitrogen sources
on the yield and nitrogen content of soybeans.
Plant & Soil 6 6 :391-396/
5. McElhannon, W .S. and H .A. Mills. 1977.
The influence of N concentration and N 0 3/
NH 4 ratio on the growth of lima, snap bean
and southern field pea seedlings. Comm. Soil
Sci. Plant Anal. 8:677-687.
6 . Mills, H .A. 1980. Nitrogen specific ion elec­
trodes in soil, plant and water analysis. J.
Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 63:797-801.
HortS cience, V ol . 19(1), F ebruary 1984