PHENOLOGY AND WATER PRODUCTIVITY IN IMPROVED PINTO BEAN VARIETIES GROWN IN DURANGO, MEXICO

Abstract

Water is one of the most important inputs in bean production in the state of Durango, Mexico; the new improved bean varieties are not fully characterized by their response to this factor, which is necessary for the purposes of modernization and irrigation planning, as well as for the prediction of phenology, to improve water productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate phenology with the estimation of degree days (°D) and water productivity (WP) in two improved bean varieties, under three levels of moisture by gravity irrigation, grown in Durango, Mexico. Pinto Saltillo and Pinto Centauro varieties were sown in the Spring-Summer season (SS) of 2015 and 2016 in Durango and in SS 2015 in Canatlán. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with four replications in 2015 and eight replications in 2016. The experimental plot consisted of 12 to 32 rows of 8 to 10 m in length and 0.81 m apart. Three levels of moisture were applied consisting of total irrigation (TI: 100 % field capacity) and deficit irrigation (DI: 80 and 60 % with respect to TI). The irrigation sheet (Is), °D, days after sowing (das), phenology, grain yield and WP were registered. Analysis of variance and Tukey test (P ≤ 0.05) were performed. Regarding the das and °D, Pinto Centauro showed earliness (flowering 40₄₀₆ to 41₄₃₀ and maturity 92₈₉₃ to 99₉₃₇ dasºD) compared to Pinto Saltillo (flowering 42₄₃₈ to 45₄₅₉ and maturity 93₉₀₀ to 103₁₀₁₃ dasºD). Grain yield did not show significant differences in Durango, but in Canatlán significant differences were observed between moisture levels and varieties. The WP ranged from 3.3 to 8.0 kg ha^-1 mm^-1, which influenced the fluctuation in yield between 2546 and 3687 kg ha^-1.