Abstract

GOMEZ-ALVAREZ, R; LAZARO-JERONIMO, G  and  LEON-NAJERA, JA. Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and radish (Rhabanus sativus L.) production in biointensive home gardens at the humid tropics of Tabasco. Universidad y ciencia [online]. 2008, vol.24, n.1, pp.11-20. ISSN 0186-2979.

In the field of organic production, horticultural products are preferred by producers as they provide high yields throughout most of the year. The biointensive cropping method generates the possibility of a self supply of healthy food and the opportunity to sell excess products in local markets. These technologies do not pollute the environment, they promote ecological practices and they increase soil fertility. The effect of organic fertilisation, with 5 t ha^-1 of compost, was evaluated through the yield (g plant^-1, radish bulb and bean grains), growth indicators (length and diameter of bulbs (cm), length and width of leaves (cm) and plant height of radishes (cm); plant height (cm), leaf width (cm) and number of pods for the beans), and the physical and chemical properties of Fluvisol eutric soil (sand, silt, clay, OM, total N, C/N ratio, available P, CEC, Ca, Mg, K and water pH). Two experiments were carried out, one for radishes and other for beans. A random block design with five repetitions, together with the biointensive organic vegetable garden technology, was applied to each case. Yields increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the treatments to which organic fertilisation was added (149% for radishes and 50% for beans). A positive response was obtained in the growth indicators in both crops (34 to 48 % for radishes and 21 to 67 % for beans, respectively). Compost fertilisation improved the chemical properties of the soil. A principal components analysis showed that, of the 15 variables (four agronomic, eight chemical y three physical) evaluated on the soil and the plants, an 82.6 % of total inertia was obtained for the beans with 66.9% corresponding to factor 1, and the yield, number of pods, height of plants and width of leaves presented significant increases (p < 0.05) that were closely related to the available P, Ca, K, CEC and the C/N ratio in the soil, all of which increased significantly (p < 0.05). A 78.7% of total inertia was obtained for the radishes with 59.8 % corresponding to factor 1, and the yield, length and diameter of the bulb, height of the plant and width of the leaf presented significant increases (p < 0.05) that were closely related to total N, C/N ratio, available P, K and CEC in the soil, all of which increased significantly (p < 0.05). The effectiveness of the use of the biointensive organic vegetable garden technique for growing vegetables in the humid tropics of Tabasco was proved for radishes and beans, as high yields were obtained after organic fertilising.

Keywords : Organic fertilisers; organic gardens; vegetables; beans; radishes.