Foliar application of molybdenum on cover crops and response of common beans in successive cultivation

ABSTRACT The effects of foliar application of Mo and use of N from cover crops (Crotalaria juncea L. and Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC) on the performance of common beans were investigated in this study. Field experiments were carried out in a succession planting system (cover crops - common beans), and nitrate reductase activities were evaluated in the laboratory. The production of cover crops was done in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme installed in random blocks with four replications. The two cover crops sunn hemp and jack bean composed the first factor and the molibdenum doses (0, 40, 80, and 120 g ha-1) the second. These doses were applied as foliar fertilization using sodium molybdate (Na2MoO4) as Mo source. For bean cultivation, an unfertilized control treatment was evaluated.. Sunn hemp showed a linear positive response to Mo application in terms of shoot dry matter and N accumulation, while jack bean showed a quadratic negative response for shoot dry matter; for N accumulation, there was no adjustment of the regression models. Nitrate reductase activity in the common beans was up to three times higher at the Mo dose of 0 g ha-1 when compared to the treatments with Mo application to both cover crops. Cover crops or Mo doses had no significant effect on bean productivity.