Abstract
Experiments were conducted over a 3-year period (1983-1985) at Fortuna and Isabela, Puerto Rico, to compare the response of three bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes that differ in growth habit and lodging susceptibility to varying cultural practices. The experimental design was a split plot arrangement of a randomized complete block with three replications. Whole-plot treatments consisted of 0.5- and 1.0-m row widths. Subplots consisted of a factorial arrangement of three seeding rate treatments (6.6, 13.2, and 19.8 seeds/m) and three dry bean genotypes. All of the bean lines produced the greatest seed yield in the 0.5-m row width with a seeding rate of 19.8 seed/m. The increased yield was the result of an increased number of pods/ha. Indeterminate genotype 2W-33-2 produced the greatest overall seed yield in spite of the fact that it lodged more than the other genotypes. At the Fortuna Substation the seed yield of all genotypes averaged more than 2000 kg/ha when grown in 0.5-m row widths. At the Fortuna Substation there was no significant effect of row spacing or seeding rate on harvest index, whereas at the Isabela Substation harvest index decreased as the seeding rate increased. Plant height and 100-seed weight were largely unaffected by variation in row spacing and seeding rate. At Fortuna there was more lodging as the seeding rate increased from 6.6 to 19.8 seeds/m.