Abstract

In order to optimize nitrogen nutrition of green beans for agroindustrial use in the central zone of Chile, Rodríguez’s Reasonable Method (2001) was adapted. The parameters considered in this study are: nitrogen demand by plants (D), soil nitrogen supply (S), nitrogen derived from fixation (NDF) and nitrogen fertilization efficiency (E). All of these parameters were estimated from field experiments conducted during 2000 and 2001 which allowed the establishment of preliminary nitrogen fertilization rates for green beans. Seed inoculation treatments with effective strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseol produced bean yields not significantly different (P<0.01) from 70 kg·ha-1 obtained with nitrogen fertilization.