Effect of sowing time and fertilizer on the protein content, seed- and protein yield of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Abstract

The beans are an important protein source. In our three-year experiment, we examined the effect of sowing times and fertilizer doses on the protein content of the seed and the protein yield per hectare. We set up the trial on sandy soil, without irrigation, in four replications with 300,000 plant per hectare in Nyíregyháza (Hungary). 10 m2 plots were in randomized blocks, with three sowing times (in normal time, earlier and later) and three fertilizer doses (0 %; 100 % and 150 %). We measured the nitrogen content of the seed with a Vario-Max CNS analyzer. The protein contents were counted from that value. The data were evaluated with Excel and SPSS 22.0. In examined 3 years the largest protein contents were in the third sowing time with 150 % fertilizer dose. In 2016-17 the yield and protein yield of the third sowing time were larger than the value of earlier sowing times for all three fertilizer doses. This was because of favourable weather. The significant effect of increased fertilizer doses was not proved at a given sowing time. If the weather was favourable, then the significant relationship among the sowing time, protein content, yield, and protein yield was positive and strong.