EFFECT OF SEAWEED CONCENTRATE ON YIELD OF NUTRIENT-STRESSED TEPARY BEAN (PHASEOLUS-ACUTIFOLIUS GRAY)

The effect of the seaweed concentrate 'Kelpak' on the yield of the tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius L.) grown under conditions of varying nutrient supply was investigated. Kelpak significantly increased the yield of plants growing at all concentrations of nutrient supply by increasing bean weight rather than bean number. Kelpak also tended to increase the N concentration of the beans. The results suggest that Kelpak did not act simply as a fertilizer, but as some kind of biostimulant.