Effect of Lime and Compost Application on the growth and yield of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): A Review

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) was domesticated ∼8000 years ago in the Americas and today is a staple food which has been consumed worldwide for its edible seeds and pods. In Ethiopia, it is one of the most important cash crops and source of protein in many areas. However, the national average yields are by far below the average yield reported in different countries. This low national average yield is due to poor soil fertility management and low nutrient availability associated with acidic soils. Most of the major common bean producing areas in Ethiopia is characterized by high rainfall and acidic soils which resulted in high nutrient fixation and low nutrient availability. Acidic soils are suggested as one of the most important soil factors which limit crop production and it is also phytotoxic which result in nutritional disorders and deficiencies of different soil nutrients for crop production. To cope with these production constraints, using of compost and lime are recommended. Lime is suggested to enhance soil health status through improving soil physic-chemical properties and neutralize the acid produced in the soil. In addition to this, it reduces Al+3 and Mn+2 toxicity and increases both P uptake in high P fixing soil and plant rooting system and improves common bean nitrogen fixation. Compost is also suggested as an option for improving soil fertility and increasing yield of common bean for poor farmers. The use of Compost in sustainable agriculture benefits farmers, growers, consumers and the environment in many ways. The proper combination of lime and compost application also has the potential of contributing to an overall increase of common bean yields due to the change in soil physio-chemical properties and enhance soil biological N fixation. This study sought to review the Effect of lime and compost application on the growth and yield of common bean in Ethiopia.

Keywords: Compost; Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)