Biomass Incorporation into degraded soils and its Effect on the Productivity of Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Objective: to evaluate the effect of incorporating biomass in degraded soils, and fertilization, on yield of common bean plants grown in the semiarid highlands of northern México.Design/Methodology/Approach: from 2019 to 2022, experiments were established in different soil conditions in Durango (México). Pinto Saltillo (PS) and Negro San Luis (NSL) common bean cultivars were planted in three fertilization treatments, 1: chemical, 2: organic and 3: foliar sprayings. Data were recorded for days to flowering and physiological maturity (days after sowing, DAS), reaction to diseases, yield, and weight of 100 seeds. The analysis of variance was performed in a completely randomized design, with a factorialarrangement, and a partial yield-stability analysis was also included.Results: the PS cultivar showed precocious flowering (38 DAS) and intermediate maturity (91 DAS); while NSL showed late flowering (43 DAS) and maturity (101 DAS). In most of the conditions, the absence of anthracnose and rust was observed, as well as intermediate and generalized levels (5 and 6 on the CIAT scale) of common bacterial blight (CBB) with low influence on the results obtained. The biological cycle of NSL was longer than PS, influencing its response to the fertilization treatments evaluated. However, yield results were statistically similar among common bean cultivars and fertilization treatments.Limitations/Implications of the study: leaf biomass incorporated into the soil is a natural and sustainablemethod for common bean production; although only two common bean cultivars were included in the study.Findings/Conclusions: soil-incorporated biomass and foliar fertilizer sprayings could be considered as natural low-cost inputs, both related to increased common bean yield in Durango (México).