PHYSIOLOGICAL QUALITY AND STORAGE OF BEAN SEEDS AS AFFECTED BY LATE SIDE DRESSING NITROGEN

Abstract

Seed physiological quality is affected by cropping environment and plant nutritional status, standing out nitrogen supply. The objective of the research was the evaluation of physiological quality and storage of bean seeds, cv. Pérola, as affected by late side dressing nitrogen fertilization, in no-tillage system. The experimental design was the completely randomized block, analyzed as a 2x4 factorial, with four replications. Treatments consisted of two nitrogen doses (0 kg ha^-1 and 90 kg ha^-1), applied at the V₄ growth stage, combined with four nitrogen doses (0 kg ha^-1, 30 kg ha^-1, 60 kg ha^-1, and 120 kg ha^-1), applied at the beginning of the R₇ growth stage. Physiological quality of seeds was evaluated by germination and vigor tests right after harvest and after four months of storage. It was concluded that additional side dressing fertilization at the V₄ growth stage resulted in seeds with better physiological quality, either right after harvest or after four months of storage. The effect on physiological quality of bean seeds by side dressing N, applied at the beginning of the R₇ growth stage, was not observed after four months of storage.

KEY-WORDS: Phaseolus vulgaris; germination; vigor; nitrogen fertilization; nutrition.