L. C. Melo

Dry Matter, Grain Yield, and Yield Components of Dry Bean as Influenced by Nitrogen Fertilization and Rhizobia

Dry bean is an important legume crop for a large portion of the worlds population. Nitrogen (N) is one of the most yield-limiting nutrients in all dry bean–producing regions of the world. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate responses of 15 dry bean genotypes to N fertilization with and without rhizobial inoculation grown on a lowland soil locally known as Varzea. Nitrogen treatments were (i) 0 mg N kg−1 (control or N0), (ii) 0 mg N kg−1 + inoculation with rhizobial strains (N1), (iii) inoculation with rhizobial strains + 50 mg N kg−1 (N2), and (vi) 200 mg N kg−1 (N3). Shoot dry weight, grain yield, yield components, maximum root length, and root dry weight were significantly affected by N fertilization, rhizobial inoculation, and genotype treatments. The Nu2009×u2009genotypes interactions were significant for shoot dry weight, grain yield, number of pods per plant, number of grain per pod, 100-grain weight, grain harvest index (GHI), and maximum root length and root dry weight. These significant interactions indicate that genotypes performance varied with varying N rates and inoculation treatments. Maximum grain yield was produced at 200 mg N kg−1 treatment. Inoculation with rhizobial strains improved grain yield but did not reach the level of 200 mg N kg−1 applied with chemical fertilizer. Based on grain yield efficiency index, genotypes were classified as efficient, moderately efficient, and inefficient in N-use efficiency. Overall, the most efficient genotypes were BRS Pontal, Diamante Negro, BRS Grafite, BRS Requinte, and BRS 9435 Cometa, and inefficient genotypes were BRSMG Talisma and Aporé.

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY IN DRY BEAN GENOTYPES

Dry bean is an important legume crop for Latin American people and nitrogen is one of the most yields limiting nutrients for bean crop. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate nitrogen (N) use efficiency of 20 dry bean genotypes. Genotypes were grown on an Oxisol and two N levels used were without N application (low level) and an application of 400 mg N kg−1 (high level). Shoot dry weight, grain yield and yield components, N concentration and uptake in shoot and grain were significantly affected by N and genotype treatments. Grain yield had a highly significant (P < 0.01) association with shoot dry weight, pod number, grains per pod and 100 grain weight. Among the 20 genotypes tested, Perola, CNFR 7847, CNFR 7865, CNFP 7777 and CNFM 6911 were found to produce reasonably good yield at low N rate as well as responded well to applied N. Whereas, some genotypes like BRS Radiante, CNFP 7624, CNFM 7875, CNFM 7886, CNFC 7813, CNFC 7827, CNFP 7677 and CNFP 7775 produced very good yields at higher N rate but very low yields at lower N rate. Hence, these genotypes are good for farmers using higher technology. Nitrogen concentration and uptake were higher in dry bean grains compared with shoot and 63% of N accumulated at zero N rate and 75% N accumulated at 400 mg N rate were translocated to grain across 20 genotypes. Nitrogen uptake efficiencies were having highly significant (P < 0.01) quadratic relationship with grain yield. This indicates that improving N uptake in dry bean plants can increase grain yield.

Influence of Nitrogen on Growth, Yield, and Yield Components and Nitrogen Uptake and Use Efficiency in Dry Bean Genotypes

Dry bean is an important legume and nitrogen (N) deficiency is one of the most yield-limiting factors in most of the bean-growing regions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the objective to determine influence of N on growth, yield, and yield components and N uptake and use efficiency of 23 dry bean genotypes. Straw yield, grain yield, yield components, maximum root length, and root dry weight were significantly increased with the addition of N but varied with genotypes. The N × genotype interactions were also significant for most of these traits, indicating variation in responses of genotypes with the variation in N levels. There was significant difference in N uptake and use efficiency among genotypes. Most of growth and yield components were significantly and positively associated with grain yield. Based on grain yield efficiency index (GYEI), genotypes were classified into efficient, moderately efficient, or inefficient group in N-use efficiency. Nitrogen concentration was greater in grain compared to straw, indicating greater N requirement of dry bean genotypes.

Agronomic Evaluation of Dry Bean Genotypes for Potassium Use Efficiency

Dry bean is an important legume worldwide, and potassium (K) deficiency is one of the important constraints for bean production in most of the bean growing regions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate fifteen dry bean genotypes grown on a Brazilian lowland (Inceptisol) United States Soil Taxonomy classification and Gley humic Brazilian Soil Classification system), locally known as “Varzea” soil. The K rate used was 0 mg kg−1 (low, natural soil level) and 200 mg kg−1 (high, applied as fertilizer). Straw yield, seed yield, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, and seed harvest index were significantly increased with the addition of K fertilizer. These traits were also significantly influenced by genotypic treatment. Similarly, root length and root dry weight were also influenced significantly by K and genotype treatments. The K X genotype interactions for most of these traits were also significant, indicating variation in these traits with the variation in K level. Based on seed yield efficiency index (SYEI), genotypes were classified as efficient, moderately efficient, and inefficient in K use efficiency. Maximum grain yield was obtained with 74 mg K kg−1 extracted by Mehlich 1 extracting solution. Similarly, K saturation required for maximum grain yield was 1.1%.

Differential Soil Acidity Tolerance of Dry Bean Genotypes

Soil acidity is a major yield-limiting factors for bean production in the tropical regions. Using soil acidity–tolerant genotypes is an important strategy in improving bean yields and reducing cost of production. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating 20 dry bean genotypes for their tolerance to soil acidity constraints. An Inceptisol soil was amended with dolomitic lime (2 g dolomitic lime kg–1 soil) to achieve low acidity (pH = 5.9) and without lime (zero lime kg–1 soil,) to achieve high acidity (pH = 4.8) levels to evaluate bean genotypes. At both acidity levels, genotypes differed significantly in shoot dry weight and grain yield. Shoot dry weight and grain yield were significantly decreased at the high acidity level compared to the low acidity level. Grain yield was more sensitive to soil acidity than shoot dry weight. Hence, grain yield was used in determination of tolerance index (GTI) to differentiate the range of soil acidity tolerance among bean genotypes. Based on a GTI value, 55% of the genotypes were classified as tolerant, 40% classified as moderately tolerant, and the remaining were grouped as susceptible to soil acidity. The genotype CNFC 10410 was most tolerant and genotype CNFP 10120 was most susceptible to soil acidity. Number of pods and grain harvest index were significantly and positively associated with grain yield. The improvement in grain yield in low acidity may be related to reduction of toxic levels of soil aluminum (Al3+) and hydrogen (H+) ions by lime addition. At harvest, soil extractable phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) increased with the reduction of soil acidity, and this might have contributed to the better nutrition of beans and lead to higher growth.

Dry Bean Genotype Evaluation for Potassium-Use Efficiency

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important food legume for the South American population. In South America it is eaten every day by all sections of the population along with rice. The average yield of this legume is low in South America and use of inadequate rates of fertilizers, including potassium (K), is one of the main factors. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate thirty dry bean genotypes for K-use efficiency. The K rates used were 0 mg kg−1 (low) and 200 mg kg−1 (high). Soil used in the experiment was an Oxisol. There was a significant response of potassium level and genotypes for most of the growth, yield, and yield components. In addition, K × genotype interactions were also significant for most of the traits evaluated. The K × genotype significant interaction indicates different responses of dry bean genotypes to change in K levels. Based on grain yield efficiency index, genotypes were classified as efficient, moderately efficient, and inefficient in K-use efficiency. Grain yield showed a significant positive association with straw yield, number of pods per plant, number of grain per pod, root length, and grain harvest index. Overall, maximum grain yield was obtained with Mehlich 1–extractable 76 mg K kg−1 soil and K saturation of 3.2 percent.

Copper-Use Efficiency in Dry Bean Genotypes

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrients and its deficiency has been reported in many crops including dry bean. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate thirty dry bean genotypes (G) for Cu-use efficiency. The Cu levels used were low (natural soil level) and adequate [10 mg Cu kg−1 soil, applied with copper sulfate (24 percent Cu)]. Straw yield, seed yield, number of pods per plant, seed per pod, seed harvest index (SHI), maximum root length (MRL), and root dry weight (RDW) were significantly affected by Cu and genotype treatments. The Cu × G interactions were also significant for these traits, indicating variation in genotype responses with the variation in Cu levels. Based on seed yield efficiency index (SYEI), genotypes were grouped in three classes: Cu efficient, moderately Cu efficient, and Cu inefficient. Fifty-three percent of the genotypes were classified as efficient, 40 percent were classified as moderately efficient, and 7 percent were classified as inefficient in Cu-use efficiency.

Dry Bean Genotypes Evaluation for Zinc-Use Efficiency

Dry bean is an important legume for human consumption worldwide. Low soil fertility, including zinc (Zn) deficiency, is one of the main factors limiting yield of this legume in South America, including Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate 30 dry bean genotypes for zinc (Zn)–use efficiency. The Zn rates used were 0 mg Zn kg−1 (low) and 20 mg Zn kg−1 (high) of soil. Grain yield, straw yield, number of pods, hundred-seed weight, number of seeds per pod, maximum root length, and rood dry weight were significantly affected by Zn and genotype treatments. The Zn × genotype interactions were also significant for growth, yield, and yield components, indicating that some genotypes were highly responsive to the Zn application while others were not. Based on seed yield efficiency index (SYEI), genotypes were classified as efficient, moderately efficient, and inefficient in Zn-use efficiency. Most efficient genotypes were CNFP 10104, BRS Agreste, BRS 7762 Supreme, CNFC 10429, BRS Estilo, CNFC 10467, BRS Esplendor, and BRS Pitamaba. The most inefficient genotype was BRS Executive. Remaining genotypes were moderately efficient in Zn-use efficiency.

Genotypic Differences in Dry Bean Yield and Yield Components as Influenced by Nitrogen Fertilization and Rhizobia

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important legume worldwide and nitrogen (N) is most yield limiting nutrients. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years to evaluate response of 15 dry bean genotypes to nitrogen and rhizobial inoculation. The N and rhizobia treatments were (i) control (0 kg N ha−1), (ii) seed inoculation with rhizobia strains, (iii) seed inoculation with rhizobia strains + 50 kg N ha−1, and (iv) 120 kg N ha−1. Straw yield, grain yield, and yield components were significantly influenced by N and rhizobial treatments. Grain yield, straw yield, number of pods m−2, and grain harvest index were significantly influenced by year, nitrogen + rhizobium, and genotype treatments. Year × Nitrogen + rhizobium × genotype interactions were also significant for these traits. Hence, these traits varied among genotypes with the variation in year and nitrogen + rhizobium treatments. Inoculation with rhizobium alone did not produce maximum yield and fertilizer N is required in combination with inoculation. Based on grain yield efficiency index, genotypes were classified as efficient, moderately efficient, and inefficient in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). NUE defined as grain produced per unit N applied decreased with increasing N rate. Overall, NUE was 23.17 kg grain yield kg−1 N applied at 50 kg N ha−1 and 13.33 kg grain per kg N applied at 120 kg N ha−1.