Performance of bean seeds produced under different levels of fertilization

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted, each in two steps. In the first step, seeds of three bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars were produced under different levels of fertilization: 0. no fertilizer, 1. NPK fertilizer, based on soil laboratory recommendations, and 2. double level 1. In the first experiment, molibdenium was added to fertilization level 2. In the second step, the performance of the seeds produced under fertilizer levels 0 and 2 (seeds 0 and 2) was tested under different levels of fertilization. In both steps of both experiments, the effect of fertilization on final stand, seed weight and commercial acceptability of seed was noted. Application of fertilizer reduced the final stand when a water deficit occurred after planting. Fertilization increased seed weight, but, for unknown reasons, reduced its commercial acceptability. The seeds 2 of cultivar Rico 23, under adverse germination conditions, resulted in a higher final stand than those produced without fertilizer. However, tis stand difference did not significantly affect seed yield.