Effect of Humic Acid and Compost with Mineral Fertilizers on Soil Fertility and Productivity of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

To mitigate the extensive use of costly mineral fertilizers and promote the adoption of organic alternatives, the current study was used to enhance the efficiency of organic fertilizers, specifically humic acid (HA) and compost (Com) while reducing the reliance on ammonium sulphate (AS) as a mineral fertilizer in common bean cultivation. Consequently, an experiment comprising 27 treatments with three replications was established in a split-split plot design incorporating (3 levels of AS, 3 levels of Com, and 3 levels of HA). This experiment was carried out at a farm located in El-Masharqa village, Fayoum, Egypt, during the agricultural seasons of 2021 and 2022. Humic acid was added as follows: 0, 2, and 4 kg feddan (fed-1), Com was added at levels of 0, 3, and 6 t fed-1 and AS was added to the soil surface a rate of 100, 150 and 200 kg fed-1. Some factors were measured, like some plant growth parameters and some chemical soil properties. The results showed that the treatment (AS at rate 200 or 150 kg fed-1 with Com 6 t fed-1 and 4 kg HA fed-1) gave the highest values, but there was no noticeable difference when AS at a rate of 100 kg fed-1 was used. The study recommended using 4 kg HA fed-1 with 6 t Com fed-1 and 100 or 150 kg AS fed-1 which reduced about 25 to 50% of mineral nitrogen fertilizer, which preserved the surrounding environment, increased bean productivity, and soil fertility.