Agronomic performance, nitrogen fixation, and amino acid profile of different common bean genotypes in Germany

Abstract Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a highly nutritious legume crop with global significance. However, their cultivation is limited in temperate regions like Germany due to climatic and agronomic constraints. The cultivation of beans has gained attention due to their potential contribution to climate change mitigation by reducing nitrogen fertilizer dependency through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). The main objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate key agronomic traits to identify genotypes that combine high SNF capacity with strong yield potential and overall suitability for sustainable production, (ii) quantify the SNF ability of various bean genotypes under South German climate using the 1 5 N natural abundance method, and (iii) analyze the amino acid profile of different bean genotypes to evaluate the nutritional quality of regionally produced protein‐based crops. A field trial involving 10 bean genotypes was conducted at the Ihinger Hof Research Station (University of Hohenheim) from May to September during the summer season of 2024 and 2025. Significant genotypic differences were observed, with high‐performing lines achieving up to 3.3 t ha −1 and fixing up to 45% of their N (up to 36 kg of N fixed ha −1 ) without nitrogen fertilizer input. Differences in amino acid profiles were also observed, with glutamic acid being the most abundant in nearly all genotypes. Three genotypes (1, 2, and 6) were identified as particularly promising, combining superior SNF ability with high grain yield under Southern German conditions.