Effects of Growth Habits and Competition on Yields of Dry Beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris) in the Tropics

Responses in yield of dry bean genotypes of different growth habits [determinate (Type I), indeterminate small vine (Type II), indeterminate large vine (Type III), and indeterminate climbing (Type IV)] were evaluated over two growing seasons. Types II and III gave higher yields than Type I, with Type II the highest. Narrow between-row spacings (50 cm) tended to give higher yields than 75 cm spacings for all habits, though Type I seemed less responsive than the indeterminate habits, Types II and III. Close within-row spacing (5 versus 10 cm) was not beneficial for beans of any growth habit. Yields of beans with climbing habit grown on different support systems and at different spacings are also reported.