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 tep ary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius L.) grown under conditions of varying nutrient supply was investigated. Kelpak significantly increased the y ield of plants growing at all concentrations of nutrient supply by inc reasing bean weight rather than bean number. Kelpak also tended to inc rease the N concentration of the beans. The results suggest that Kelpa k did not act simply as a fertilizer, but as some kind of biostimulant .