Agronomic performance of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines in an Oxisol

Soil acidity and low nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability are the most important constraints for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) production in highly weathered soils of the humid tropics. The objective of this study was to identify bean lines capable of producing higher yields as the result of greater N and P use efficiency under conditions of intermediate soil N and P availability. Selection for adaptation to low soil fertility can be used by plant breeding programs to improve bean seed yields. The performance of 33 bean lines and the varieties 'Morales' and 'Verano' from Puerto Rico and 'Salagnac 90' from Haiti were evaluated under three fertilization regimes in an Oxisol (very-fine, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Typic Eutrustox): (i) 50 kg N/ha (+N), 57 kg P2O5/ha (+P), 54 kg K2O/ha (+K), (ii) -N, +P, and +K, and (iii) +N, -P and +K in two field plantings of June 2007 and January 2008. The black bean line PR0443-151 and red bean line PR0340-3-31 had consistently higher seed yields under nutrient non-limiting conditions (+N +P +K). The low N tolerant lines and those that consistently had the highest N use efficiencies were PR0443-151, VAX 3, RBF 11-33 and RBF 19-63. Lines that were both efficient in N utilization and responsive to N application were PR0443-151, IBC 309-23, and A774. PR0340-3-31, PR0443-151, A774 and VAX 3 had the highest seed yields under soil P limiting conditions and expressed high soil P use efficiency. The identification of the bean lines with high relative yields under both nutrient limiting and non-limiting conditions, high nutrient use efficiency, and tolerance to low soil N and P. can help breeding programs and eventual sustainability of bean production in the Caribbean. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.