Biological nitrogen fixation by irrigated dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes

Abstract

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is usually considered to be poor at biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), but large variations in this trait have been observed among bean genotypes. We evaluated 16 bean genotypes for N2 fixation ability in four N treatments: (i) uninoculated in low-N soil (30 kg N ha−1), (ii) inoculated with commercial Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli inoculant Nitrastik-D® in low-N soil, (iii) inoculated with commercial R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli inoculant Nodulator® in low-N soil, and (iv) uninoculated in high-N soil (100 kg N ha−1). There were differences between genotypes in all the plant parameters that were measured, but only nodulation was affected by N treatment. The 100 kg N ha−1 treatment suppressed nodulation. Seven genotypes nodulated well with either inoculant, two genotypes nodulated better with Nitrastik-D than with Nodulator, three nodulated better with Nodulator than with Nitrastik-D, and four nodulated poorly with either inoculant. Cultivars AC Redbond, Island, and Resolute, all currently commercially grown, did not fix much N2 at flowering (4–8 kg N ha−1) or maturity (19–34 kg N ha−1). By contrast, germplasm lines PI 136692 (red bean), GH-196 (pinto bean), and LEF2RB (carioca bean) had high BNF capability at flowering (10–11 kg N ha−1) and especially at maturity (60–72 kg N ha−1), in addition to high seed yield (2778–2897 kg ha−1), indicating their superior ability to support both of these economically important traits throughout plant growth. These three genotypes would be valuable to breeders for the genetic improvement of BNF in dry bean cultivars.

Effects of Nitrogen Application on Nitrogen Fixation in Common Bean Production

“…A number of studies have shown that nodulation is inhibited in soybean by nitrogen levels exceeding 5 mM (Saito et al, 2014). In a recent study, evaluating 16 common bean genotypes from different market classes under four nitrogen treatments [not inoculated low N (30 kg ha −1 ) and high N (100 kg ha −1 ) and two rhizobia strains], Akter et al (2018) confirmed inhibition of nitrogen fixation by a high dose of nitrogen fertilizer. Genotype-specific sensitivity of nitrogen fixation to mineral nitrogen was identified in common bean (Hardarson, 1993;Farid et al, 2016).…”

The Biology of Legumes and Their Agronomic, Economic, and Social Impact

“…Biological N fixation by legumes (e.g., faba bean, lentil, pea, chickpea, alfalfa, red clover etc.) ranges from 21 to 389 kg ha −1 (Table 1) (Cazzato et al 2012;Nimmo et al 2013;Büchi et al 2015;Hossain et al 2016;Snapp et al 2017;Akter et al 2018;da Silva Júnior et al 2018;Dhamala et al 2018;Ntatsi et al 2018;Pampana et al 2018;Ntatsi et al 2019).…”

“…The N 2 -fixation capacity of legumes (e.g., the proportion of N derived from the atmosphere [%Ndfa] and biomass productivity) is mainly dependent on plant species, genotypes, symbiotic bacteria (e.g., Rhizobium spp.) strains, and environmental conditions (Büchi et al 2015;Hossain et al 2016;Akter et al 2018;Ntatsi et al 2018;Benjelloun et al 2019;Ntatsi et al 2019).…”

Performance of Mesoamerican bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines in an unfertilized oxisol

“…The combination of enhanced SNF with the capacity to better acquire or utilize soil N should improve adaptation of beans to unfertile soils. Bean genotypes that combine greater SNF and nitrogen use efficiency would reduce both dependence on N fertilizer and potential contamination of N in the environment (Akter et al, 2018).…”