Influence of P,Zn and Fe fertilization upon yield and protein quality of Sanilac Navy bean seed

Abstract

Treatments of P, Zn and Fe fertilizers were added to a Zn deficient Wisner silty clay loam soil. Sanilac bean plants were grown as the Zn responsive test crop and tissue samples were taken 5 weeks after planting for early growth and Zn uptake responses. At maturity, yield data were obtained and composite samples of beans were taken for determination of protein quality as evaluated by percentage of N, percentage of crude protein and relative contents of essential amino acids. A growth and Zn uptake response was obtained to ZnSO₄, ZnNTA and FeNTA fertilization at both P levels, while a yield response to the same treatments was obtained only at high soil P (448 kg/ha) levels. The percentage N, percentage crude protein and relative contents of essential amino acids did not change as a result of P, Zn or Fe fertilization even when yields were tripled due to Zn fertilization.