Nitrogen fertilizer placement and its influence on snap bean production in North Florida

In sandy soils or areas with abundant rainfall, nutrients tend to leach from where plant roots grow. Nitrogen (N) is a mobile element that is consistently at risk of being lost to the environment. In the spring of 2023, a controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) study with two locations was undertaken at the North Florida Research and Education Center—Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV) in Live Oak, FL. The objective of the study was to evaluate how broadcasting and banding CRF application methods (CRF-BAND and CRF-BROADCAST, respectively) influence snap bean yield, pod quality, soil nitrate-N, N uptake, and leaf tissue N concentration. The Caprice cultivar was evaluated using a randomized complete block design with four replications using an N rate of 112 kg ha⁻¹ at two trials with different planting dates. The results showed no significant differences in yield between methods of N fertilizer application or trials. Snap bean width was greater under CRF-BROADCAST and at Trial 2. Shoot N uptake increased more pronouncedly over time under CRF-BAND when compared to CRF-BROADCAST. Leaf N concentration remained similar across trials under CRF-BAND, indicating an effective shoot N uptake when N fertilizer is banded irrespective of planting dates. The results highlight the potential environmental benefits of banding N fertilizers, particularly in reducing nitrate-N leaching in sandy soils. The findings provide valuable information for developing more sustainable and environmentally friendly nutrient management techniques for snap bean cultivation.