Performance of common bean cultivars in organic production system

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and grain yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivars of different market grain types, in organic production system. Two field experiments were carried out with 16 cultivars, in a randomized complete block design with 16 treatments and four replicates. Seed were inoculated with rizobia, cattle manure was applied at sowing and castor bean press cake was applied at side dress. Bean cultivars differed for nodulation, accumulation of dry matter and N in the shoots, grain yield and yield components, with significant interactions between cultivars and years for grain yield. Average grain yield of cultivars was 2,035 and 1,704 kg ha^-1 in 2011 and 2012, respectively, for which BRS Pontal, BRS Campeiro, BRS Radiante, Aporé, and Constanza outstood with more than 1,900 kg ha^-1 average across two years. Grain yield was higher in large-seeded cultivars, in 2011; and in small-seeded ones, in 2012. The BRS Radiante and Constanza cultivars, with grains of special types with potential for market niches with improved commercial prices, show good performance in the organic production system.