Field bean leaf area development and seed yield as affected by phosphorus application on a Typic Trofudult in Panama

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Abstract
A long-term P experiment is currently being conducted on a Typic Tropudult in Panama to study plant growth and yield response of a sequence of crops, with differential external P requirements, to initial applications of fertilizer P at rates of 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 kg P/ha. The response of field beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), the first crop in this sequence, to P fertilization is reported in this paper. Both plant growth and seed yield were greatly increased with P fertilization. Leaf area attained maximum expansion at 50 kg P/ha, whereas seed yield response was evident up to 100 kg P/ha. Neither leaf area production nor yields significantly responded to additional P rates above 100 kg/ha. Assessment of the external P requirement for beans indicated this crop could attain approximately 80% of maximum yields at a level of 12 mg/kg of extractable P (0.5M NaHCO3 + EDTA).