Effects of wood ash and soil water potential on vegetative development of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.)

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the amending potential of eucalyptus’s wood ash on soil chemical properties and soil-water potential. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Mato Grosso, campus in Rondonópolis. The experimental design was composed of randomized blocks in a 5×5 factorial scheme, including five soil-water potentials (−4, −8, −16, −32 and −64 kPa), and five wood ash doses (0; 8; 16; 24 and 32 g dm−3). The soil samples were collected from the top layer of an Oxisol under natural Cerrado vegetation. Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) growth variables (plant height, numbers of leaves, stem diameter, and SPAD index) were analyzed at three different phenological periods. In general, the wood ash doses increased soil pH, eliminated the exchangeable aluminum, and improved soil essential nutrients availability. As a result, mung bean plants responded positively to wood ash, achieving superior results at doses ranging from 24 to 26 g dm−3. The interaction between wood ash doses and soil water potential was not significant. However, drier soil conditions constrained plant growth severely. According to our experimental conditions, plant growth variables achieved higher performance at soil water potential of −4 kPa.