Optimum dosage of granular phosphorus fertilizer on the yield of young pods of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The growth and yield of erect snap bean pods Phaseolus vulgaris L. could be improved among other things by the application of optimum dosage of appropriate source of phosphate fertilizer. The goal of this experiment was to find out optimum dosage of granular phosphorus fertilizer that was effective to increase yield of erect snap bean plants. Research activities have been carried out at Experimental Garden of Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute (IVEGRI) from January to March 2010 in Lembang - Bandung, West Java. A Randomized Block Design with four replications was set up in the field. Treatments comprised of five level dosages of granular phosphorus fertilizer, viz. 50; 75; 100; 125 and 150 kg P2O5/ha-1, and control (without P fertilizer) with four replications. P and basic fertilizers were applied at two days before planting the seed. Seed were planted in double rows and two seed per hole in the row. The rows were covered by black silver plastic mulch. Erect snap bean plants were maintained optimally and protected intensively from pests and diseases infestations since in the beginning by the application of proper kinds and dosage of pesticides. Variable measured were vegetative growth and yield of young pods. Research results showed that P fertilizer increase number of flower cluster per plant. Optimum dosage for yield of young pods was 90.8 kg P2O5/ha-1 with 34.06 kg yield young pods per plot.