AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF EARLY CYCLE COMMON BEAN CULTIVARS UNDER NITROGEN FERTILIZATION

Improving nitrogen fertilization practices in early cycle common bean crops, as well as offering insights into the efficiency of cultivars and the economic viability of nitrogen rates is essential to increase sustainability in agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic attributes and economic viability of early cycle bean cultivars in response to applying varied nitrogen (N) rates in topdressing. The experiment was conducted in a eutrophic Red Latosol with a clayey texture implementing a randomized block experimental design in a split-plot scheme with 4 replications. The plots were composed of the IAC Nuance, IAC 1849 Polaco and IAC Veloz cultivars with rajado, carioca and black grains, respectively. The subplots were formed by varied N rates applied in topdressing: 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1. IAC Veloz stood out in productivity, being classified as efficient and responsive to the use of N. The IAC Nuance cultivar obtained the highest yield for sieve 14, while IAC 1849 Polaco stood out for sieve 13 and IAC Veloz for sieve 12. The IAC Veloz cultivar obtained a greater relative economic return in relation to the others due to its greater productivity; however, rates of 60 and 120 kg ha-1 were not economically viable for this cultivar. The rate of 180 kg ha-1 was the only one considered economically viable for the three cultivars evaluated in the experiment. Therefore, nitrogen fertilization management in common bean crops should be genotype-dependent, aiming at greater economic viability.