Growth and Quality of Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under Foliar Application of Organic-Chelate Fertilizers

Abstract Organic-based chelate fertilizers can effectively improve nutrient uptake and use efficiency of plants. In the present study, foliar applications of three organic-chelate fertilizers on green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants were compared to soil application of a mix chemical fertilizer (NPK) under greenhouse conditions. The treatments were foliar application (six sprays at 0.2% concentration) of Biomin, Humifolin, DelfonPlus, a mixture of micro and macronutrients, soil application of chemical fertilizer (NPK 0.5 g.kg-1 soil), and no fertilizer control. Foliar applications of organic-chelate fertilizers improved plant height, leaf area, shoot dry weight, leaf N and K concentration, pod number and pod yield compared to control plants. Pod soluble solids, vitamin C and total protein contents were significantly increased by foliar application of organic-chelate fertilizers. Soil applied NPK also improved green bean productivity compared to no fertilizer control. For most plant growth traits, there was no significant difference among the three organic-chelates. Foliar application of the macro- micro- nutrient mixture was not able to enhance the same growth, yield and pod quality traits like organic-chelates. Therefore, application of nutrient elements in form of organic-chelate and particularly by foliar application can guarantee better green bean plant performance.