1960 Tests With Beans

1960 Tests

With

Beans

A.

I.

Dow,* Extension Specialist in Outlying Testing

Results ancl Recommendations

Fertilizer trials

with

field beans, involving

various

rates of phosphorus

and

potash,

were

conducted

at

four locations in the Columbia Basin.

Results:

1. There

were

substantial increases in yield due to phosphorus

fertiliza-tion

at

three locations.

2. Yields

were

higher where phosphorus was broadcast and plowed

down than

where

it

was

sidedressed a month after planting.

3. High rates of potash reduced bean yields in some cases.

Further studies are necessary for full evaluation of these results.

Recommendations:

1.

Have your soil tested.

This is the only satisfactory basis for

estimat-ing how much phosphorus and potash to apply.

2. Broadcast applications of phosphate

and

potash should be plowed

under.

3.

Apply bean fertilizers early.

Sidedressed fertilizers should be

ap-plied within two weeks after planting.

Bean Fertilizer Trials

Fertilizer trials on field beans were conducted at four locations. Information regarding the four trial locations is given

in Table 1. Red Mexican beans were

grown in each trial except at Othello where the beans were "small flat whites". The locations were selected on the basis of low soil test values for phosphorus

and potash. Phosphorus and potash rates were used in each case with a blanket

application of nitrogen and zinc.

Phos-phorus was applied as treble superphos -phate and potash as potassium chloride.

The yields of beans resulting from

various fertilizer treatments are shown in Table 2. Each value is an average from five plots receiving the same treatment.

The plot yields were statistically analyzed

to find whether or not yield differences were due to fertilizer treatment.

Phosphorus resulted in substantial yield increases at Connell, Wahluke Slope, and Othello. At two of these locations at least

300 pounds per acre of P205 appears to have been essential for maximum yields.

This is a higher rate than has normally been necessary for maximum bean yields. At the Royal Slope location, phosphorus had no influence on yield.

At Connell, comparisons were made between sidedressing and broadcasting phosphorus. The broadcast ·treatments were applied April 13 and plowed under shortly thereafter. The beans were planted on May 7 and sidedressed on June 3. Broadcasting showed a distinct advantage over sidedressing at all three rates of phosphorus tested. This advantage may arise from the time of application rather than the method. Sidedressing the beans nearly one month after planting may be too late for most efficient use of phos-phorus by the plant.

The effect of potash on bean yields is of interest. In no case was there an in-crease in yield due to potash. In three of the trials potash appears to have de-creased the yields. This was especially true at Wahluke Slope where high rates

of potash were applied. This potash effect limits the value of the information on phosphorus, since all phosphorus treat-ments contained 300 pounds per acre of potash. Probably there would have been a much greater response to phosphorus at this location had the phosphorus compar-isons been made at a lower rate of potash.

An explanation for this depression in yield may involve the following factors:

1. The area was heavily leveled and soil samples from the area showed slight indications of a salt problem.

2. The highly soluble potassium chlo-ride was sidedressed in concentrated bands between the irrigation furrow and the bean roots.

3. Beans are very sensitive to high salt concentrations.

This depression in yield at Wahluke may explain why there was no response to potash at any location in spite of the low soil tests from all locations. In order to overcome this problem, potash may have to be. broadcast and plowed down ahead of planting.

Table 1.

Soil and Crop History of Bean Trial Locations

Crop and Fer- Soil Test Location Cooperator Soil Type tilizer History p

_K

Connell Dick Novara 1959 Wheat Very Low Block 18 Huddleston Silt loam N- 100 low

P-

60

Wah luke Ervin Sagehill New land Very Very Slope Easterday Fine sandy (2-ft. cut) low low

Block 20 loam

Othello Gearheart Shano New land Very Low Block 46 Bros. Fine sandy (2-ft. cut) low

loam

Royal Vera I Corfu New land Low Low Slope Hodges Silt loam (1-ft. cut)

Table 2. Yield of Beans Resulting from Various Fertilizer Treatments*

TREATMENT*

*

,

Yl ELD

,

POUNDS PER ACRE

POUNDS PER ACRE

_Connell

_Connell

_{Wah luke}

_Royal

P

2

0

5

K

2

0

Sidedress

Broadcast

Slope

Othello

Slope

0

300

186S

234

492

2379

so

300

S1S

1633

211S

1

00

300

217S

2733

S1S

2049

2294

2

00

300

2S32

2879

8SS

2099

2247

300

'

300

2SS9

3318

1284

2297

2313

300

0

260S

22S1

2426

2673

300

so

2079

2S71

2690

300

100

2349

2003

2267

2630

300

200

2317

1630

2076

2221

300

300

2SS9

1284

2297

2313

• All plots received 120 pounds of nitrogen and 10 pounds of zinc per acre. All fertilizers were sidedressed except in the case of the phosphorus broadcast treatments at Connell.

•• The table is divided into two sections for easy comparison of P and K treatments. The 300-300 treatment appears in both sections.

Outlying Testing in Washington

Outlying Testing is a joint project of the Experiment

Stations and Extension Service of Washington State U

ni-versity.

The program is conducted in cooperation with

local farmers.

In eastern Washington work is being done

in Benton, Franklin, Adams, and Grant Counties. Eighteen

trials were completed in 1960 involving bean fertility,

potato fertility, wheat varieties, sorghum varieties, corn

varieties, and chemical weed control in corn.

The

loca-tions represent a wide range of climate and soil condiloca-tions

throughout the Basin area.

The locations of all the trials

are shown in the map on the next page.

The objectives of Outlying Testing are:

1. To demonstrate how crop varieties and fertilizers

react in different areas and under somewhat

dif-ferent soil and climate conditions.

2. To obtain facts to supplement the basic

informa-tion obtained by Experiment Stainforma-tions research.

Outlying Testing trials are designed so that

mea-surements (yield, etc.) can be statistically

an-alyzed and have scientific value.

The

informa-tion is published and made available as quickly

as possible.

In addition, the program also serves other purposes.

For example, it compares soil test results with crop

re-sponse at various locations.

This provides information

for the State University soil testing program.

Central Washington Outlying Testing Locations -1960

SYMBOL

c

B p

s

cw

w

• Soap Lake

8

Royal Slope GRANT CO. COLUMBIA RIVER TYPE OF TRIAL Corn varieties Bean fertility Potato fertility Sorghum varieties Corn weed control Wheat varieties Worden I • I I ________________ J I I I I I I I I I I p • Othello

w

8

S. C •

w

ADAMS CO. FRANKLIN CO.

s

.

Meso

•

Connell • Eltopia CW Kennewick

s

Published and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the Washington State University Extension Service, C. A. Svinth, Director, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture,