Nutritional Efficiency of Bean Cultivars under Competition with Weeds

Although the common bean has an effectively rapid cycle, its ability to use nutrients added during planting and cover can be affected by the presence of certain weed species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of competition between three bean cultivars (IPR Colibri, IPR Eldorado, and Perola) and six weed species (Euphorbia heterophylla, Bidens pilosa, Cenchrus echinatus, Amaranthus spinosus, Commelina benghalensis and Brachiaria plantaginea) on accumulation of N, P, and K by the plants, and on the nutritional efficiency of the bean plant. The experiment was conducted under controlled temperature and humidity conditions in a randomized block design with four replications. The period of coexistence between the bean cultivars and the weeds was 45 days after crop emergence. The bean cultivars showed reduced relative accumulation of N, P, and K when under competition, with the root system being the main organ affected negatively. IPR Colibri tolerated competition with the weeds the least. E. heterophylla presented the lowest competitive power, while A. spinosus and B. plantaginea were the most competitive against the bean. The nutritional efficiency of the bean plants varied according to the bean genotype and the weed.