TITLE:
Foliar Application of Calcium and Molybdenum in Common Bean Plants: Yield and Seed Physiological Potential
AUTHORS:
Denis Santiago Costa, Rafael Marani Barbosa, Julio Storion Oliveira, Marco Eustaquio Sa
KEYWORDS:
Phaseolus vulgaris L., Plant Nutrition, Germination, Vigor
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.5 No.11,
September
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: The foliar application of micro- and macronutrients is often practiced by
farmers to improve yield and seed physiological potential. For calcium and
molybdenum, positive results have been observed, even in soils with high
nutrient content. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of foliar
applications of calcium and molybdenum on yield and seed physiological
potential in common bean plants. A randomized block design was implemented,
with the treatments fixed in a factorial scheme: two molybdenum rates (with or
without) and four calcium rates, with four replications. The calcium rates
applied on the leaves were 0, 150, 300 and 600 g·ha-1 for the first
year of the investigation (2005) and 0, 300, 600 and 900 g·ha-1 for
the second year (2006). In both years, the molybdenum rates applied on the
leaves were 0 g·ha-1 (without) and 75 g·ha-1 (with). The
results showed that the foliar calcium application, with or without molybdenum,
did not improve yield. Foliar application of calcium alone improved seed
physiological potential in common bean plants when applied at the full bloom
stage.