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Plants

common bean

Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Phaseolus

field bean, kidney bean

Placenta I Low Fertilizer biomass 🌱 Nitrogen fixer
M. Socorro González Elizondo · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist

Annual nitrogen-fixing legume, dietary staple in Brazil. Pasini lists it in the medium stratum of Tabela 3. Planted in consortium with corn in the Placenta I phase of Brazilian syntropic systems (Embrapa CT-16, Götsch 'Homem e natureza').

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta I
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Low
Strata
Low, Medium
Biomass class
Fertilizer biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
5.5–7.5
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Sandy
Frost tolerance
0.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
0.3–1.5 m
Recommended spacing
0.3–0.5 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Shallow
Growth rate
Very fast
Lifespan
≤ 1 year
Time to first harvest
3 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Common bean takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time. It also fixes nitrogen, feeding the soil for its line neighbors.

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Emergent High Medium Low · ≈2 m Ground cover

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of common bean?

The first harvest of common bean comes around 3 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for common bean?

The recommended spacing for common bean is 0.3–0.5 m.

How tall does common bean grow?

At maturity, common bean reaches 0.3–1.5 m tall.

What stage and stratum does common bean occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, common bean belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the low stratum.

Does common bean fix nitrogen?

Yes — common bean is a nitrogen-fixing species that helps fertilize the system's soil.

Functions

🍎 Fruit 🌱 Nitrogen fixer

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Armando, Bueno, Alves & Cavalcante (2002) — Agrofloresta para Agricultura Familiar (Embrapa Circular Técnica 16), Tabela 1 , p. 3 (gotsch_stage)
  3. PFAF Plant Database — Phaseolus vulgaris (ph_min, ph_max, light_need, frost_tolerance_c, propagation, soil_texture_preference)
  4. Clemson HGIC / Botanical Realm — common bean cultivation (pH, days to harvest, soil) (ph_min, ph_max, time_to_first_harvest_months, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, soil_texture_preference)
  5. GBIF — Phaseolus vulgaris L. (accepted, key 5350452) (external_ids)

External references

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