Two factorial field experiments on snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown on a heavy clay soil, were executed in 2 seasons (2015 and 2016). Zn-spray with 4 treatments of No-Zn spray (water spray) (Zn0), Zn-sulphate (Zn1), Zn-chelate (Zn.DTPA) (Zn2) and nano-ZnO (Zn3). Zn-solutions contained 50 mg Zn L-1. N was applied through soil at 144 kg N ha-1 as mineral ammonium sulphate (N1), 72 N ha-1 as mineral + 72 N ha-1 as organic (compost) (N2); and 72 N ha-1 mineral + 72 N ha-1 as organic + biofertilizer (Rhizobium) (N3). Non-sprayed plants gave 12.9 Mg ha-1 fresh pods. Traits of plant height, No. of leaves and leaf area plant-1 increased due to Zn-spry. Increases by Zn1, Zn2 and Zn3 were 6.8, 8.3 and 11.9 % respectively for height, 8.6, 7.6 and 18.3%, for leaf area and 8.3, 22.4 and 29.6% for pod yield. The N2 or N3 treatments gave greater positive response than the N1 treatment. |
