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Black and Navy Bean Response to Row Spacing and Plant Population in Eastern North Dakota (A1921, May 2019)

NDSU research trials evaluate potential yield increase of black and navy bean with higher plant populations and narrower rows compared to the traditionally recommended plant density in wide rows.

Gregory Endres, NDSU Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC); Hans Kandel, NDSU Extension Agronomist, NDSU Plant Sciences Department

Mike Ostlie, Research Agronomist, CREC; Blaine Schatz, Director and Research Agronomist, CREC; Ryan Buetow, NDSU Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, Dickinson Research Extension Center

Availability: Web only


photo of dry bean trial
photo by Hans Kandel, NDSU
Narrower row spacings and higher plant populations are trending in dry bean production. Data from a 2018 dry bean grower survey (Knodel et al. 2019) indicate 39% of black and 44% of navy bean were planted in North Dakota at rates of 110,000 seeds per acre or greater, with the likely goal of establishing at least 100,000 plants per acre. In addition, the survey results record about 70% of black and navy bean in 2018 were planted in row widths ranging from 11 to 25 inches.

Based on historic North Dakota work, NDSU recommends an established stand of 90,000 plants per acre for black and navy bean. Research conducted in 1999 to 2000 indicated no seed yield response among black and navy bean planting rates of 90,000, 105,000 and 120,000 pure live seeds (PLS) per acre and a yield increase in one of two years with
7- versus 30-inch row spacings (Schatz et al. 2000).

This publication summarizes NDSU research trials conducted 2014 to 2018 in eastern North Dakota to evaluate potential yield increase of black and navy bean with higher plant populations and narrower rows compared to the traditionally recommended plant density in wide rows.

Materials and Methods

Experimental design: Randomized complete block with four replications at all locations. Carrington: split-plot arrangement with main plot of row spacing and sub-plot of plant populations; Park River and Prosper: factorial arrangement of market class and plant population.

Treatments: ‘Eclipse’ black and ‘Avalanche’ navy bean were planted in 14-, 21- and 28-inch rows at 100,000, 125,000 and 150,000 PLS per acre for a targeted population of 90,000, 110,000 and 130,000 plants per acre, respectively, at Carrington in 2014 to 2017. The research continued with black bean in 2018 with slightly lower planting rates. In addition, the two dry bean market classes were planted at the three planting rates at Park River in 2014 and Prosper in 2014 to 2017 in intermediate row spacing (either 14 or 18 inches).

General: The dryland trials were conducted using conventional-tillage systems on Heimdal-Emrick loam soil at Carrington, Fairdale silt loam soil at Park River and Kindred-Bearden fine-silty loam soil at Prosper. Dry bean was planted generally during the last half of May. Plant populations were measured two to four weeks after planting at Carrington and prior to harvest at Park River and Prosper. After seed maturity, plants were hand-pulled and threshed with a plot combine during the first half of September. Best management practices were used for dry bean production.

Results

Black bean seed yield was not statistically different with the two-factor (row spacing by population) interaction. Averaged across four years and plant populations at Carrington, black bean yield was statistically similar among row spacings (Figure 1). Plant emergence, flowering and physiological maturity dates generally were similar with row spacing each year of the study (data not shown). Canopy closure visually evaluated during late July to early August and averaged over three years was 85%, 76% and 64% with 14-, 21- and 28-inch rows, respectively. Test weight and seed size generally were similar among row spacings (data not shown).

Figure 1. Black bean seed yield among row spacings (inches), Carrington, 2014 and 2016-18 (4 site-years)1.

bar graph of black bean seed yield among row spacings

1 'Eclipse'. Averaged across three plant populations.

Averaged across eight site-years, black bean planted at the low, medium and high rates produced 99,100, 118,500 and 140,700 plants per acre, respectively (Figure 2). Yield increased 3% with the high- versus low-plant population. The intermediate plant population was statistically similar to the high plant population. Plant emergence, flowering and physiological maturity dates generally were similar with plant population (data not shown). Canopy closure, averaged across five site-years, generally was similar among plant populations. Also, test weight and seed size were similar with plant population at each of the eight site-years of the study.

Figure 2. Black bean seed yield among plant populations, Carrington, Park River and Prosper, 2014 and 2016-18 (8 site-years)1.

bar graph of black bean seed yield among plant populations

1 'Eclipse'. Averaged across row spacings.

Navy bean seed yield, averaged across three site-years at Carrington, was statistically different with the two-factor interaction (Table 1). Averaged across three years and rows, plant population was 92,600, 116,800 and 139,800 plants per acre with the low to high planting rates, respectively. Highest yield was achieved at 2,660 and 2,790 lb. per acre with narrow (14-inch) rows plus the medium and high plant populations, respectively. With the range of increased plant populations in this study to maximize yield, targeted populations would need to be determined based on seed costs and market price.

Navy bean plant emergence, flowering date and physiological maturity generally were similar with row spacing and plant population each year of the study at Carrington (data not shown). Canopy closure, averaged over two years, was 91%, 76% and 70% with 14-, 21- and 28-inch rows, respectively. Also, canopy closure was similar among plant populations (data not shown). Test weight and seed size were similar with row spacing and plant population each year of study.

Table 1. Navy bean seed yield among row spacings and plant populations, Carrington, 2014 and 2016-17 (3 site-years).

Plant population
Row spacing 92,600 116,800 139,800
Inches Seed yield (lb. per acre)
14 2580bc 2660ab 2790a
21 2470cd 2340d 2340d
28 2010e 2070e 2120e
LSD (0.10) - - - - - - - - - - 180 - - - - - - - - - -

Summary

Black bean seed yield was similar among the three row spacings. The high plant population (slightly more than 140,000 plants per acre) increased yield 3% compared to the low population (slightly less than 100,000 plants per acre).

Narrow (14-inch) rows with navy bean plant populations of greater than 115,000 plants per acre increased yield 24% to 28% compared to wide rows with slightly more than 90,000 plants per acre.

References

Knodel, J.J., P.B. Beauzay, G.J. Endres, D.W. Franzen, J. Ikley, H.J. Kandel, S.G. Markell, J.M. Osorno, and J.S. Pasche. 2018 Dry bean grower survey of production, pest problems and pesticide use in Minnesota and North Dakota. NDSU Extension publication E1902. March 2019.

Schatz, B.G., S.F. Zwinger, and G.J. Endres. 2000. Dry edible bean performance as influenced by plant density. NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center. Crop and Livestock Review. Vol. 41, p. 9.

 

The Northarvest Bean Growers Association supported this research.

NDSU Extension does not endorse commercial products or companies even though reference may be made to tradenames, trademarks or service names.

Filed under: crops, crops-dry-beans
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