The objective of this paper was to identify an appropriate substrate for common bean grown in flowerpots. The experiments were carried out in a green house during 2005, with the TPS Nobre common bean cultivar. Seven substrates were evaluated: Plantimax®, carbonized rice husks, vermiculite, sand, carbonized rice husks + 20% of Plantimax®, carbonized rice husks + 20% of vermiculite and carbonized rice husks + 20% of sand. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replications. The nutrients were supplied weekly to fertigation and the water was added to refill the consumed volume. The evaluated substrates had different chemical and physical characteristics. The commercial substrate Plantmax® was characterized by high cations capacity exchange (30.6 cmol c L-1) and the highest water storage capacity per volume unit, which contributed for the higher dry matter yield of the plants and for common bean grains yield components. Therefore, we concluded that commercial substrate Plantmax® is appropriate for the common bean cultivation in flowerpots with fertigation.
Phaseolus vulgaris L.; soilless cropping; nutrient solution
