This study was conducted with the objective of verifying how soil compaction affects root and shoot development of a bean crop. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse of Embrapa Rice & Beans, in Santo Antônio de Goiás, GO, Brazil, in soil columns packed in PVC tubes 40 cm high and 25 cm of internal diameter. The soil columns were artificially compacted to provide soil bulk densities of 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 kg dm-3 in the 0 - 20 cm soil layer. Bean varieties Pérola and BAT 477 were grown in the soil columns. The soil water potential was maintained between -35 and -10 kPa. The evaluations were made at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 72 days after emergence. The root dry matter, root length density, root thickness, leaf area, shoot dry matter, and specific leaf weight were evaluated. The increase in soil compaction negatively affected root and shoot development of bean, the effect being more expressive at bulk density values higher than 1.2 kg dm-3. Pérola variety showed more root and shoot development than BAT 477 when there was no physical restriction in the soil for root development. BAT 477, however, was more rustic being less affected by soil compaction and showing higher leaf area and shoot dry matter under this situation.
Phaseolus vulgaris; bean varieties; bulk density; plant growth
