Regenerative Organic Dry Bean Production in the Northeast

PDFs of all completed research reports:

February 2023

2022 Organic Dry Bean Variety Trial:  https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Northwest-Crops-and-Soils-Program/2022%20Research%20Reports/2022_Organic_Dry_Bean_Variety_Trial_Report.pdf  

March 2023

2022 Organic Black Bean Seeding Rate Trial: https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Northwest-Crops-and-Soils-Program/2022%20Research%20Reports/2022_Organic_Black_Bean_Seeding_Rate_report.pdf  

April 2023

2022 VT and NY Dry Bean Variety Trial Report: 2022 Organic Dry Bean Variety Trial Summary (bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com)

January 2024

2023 Organic Dry Bean Variety Trial: https://legacy.drup2.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Northwest-Crops-and-Soils-Program/2023%20Research%20Rpts/2023_Organic_Dry_Bean_Variety_Trial_Report_Final.pdf

Black Bean Seeding Rate Trial -- Cultivated and Organic No-Till systems

Two years of the black bean seeding rate trial are now complete, in both no-till and tilled systems, to inform practices for current dry bean growers (predominantly growing in a tilled system) as well as expanding our understanding of no-till systems and guiding farmers that adopt this practice.

Results 2022:

The main effects of tillage and seeding rate had significant impacts on bean production. Table 3 below summarizes the significance of main effects and main effect interactions. There was a tillage treatment by seeding rate interaction for black bean emergence population and for whole bean plant biomass, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 below. The tillage treatment by seeding rate interaction for emergence suggests that the seeding rate treatments responded differently under different tillage methods. While emergence increases with seeding rate for both treatments, dry bean emergence was higher overall when planted into tilled soil than into rolled down cereal rye. Emergence was likely suppressed by the thick layer of rye biomass.  The winter rye produced approximately 6590 lbs or 3.3 tons ac-1 of dry matter. The 60,000 seeds ac-1 treatment had emergence closest to the target population for both tillage treatments and the difference between emergence and target seeding plant populations increased with seeding rate. Whole bean plant biomass, assessed at R6/R7 growth stage, was consistently lower in the no-till plots across all seeding rates. Unlike emergence population, the lowest seeding rate had the greatest whole plant biomass in the tilled plots.  Biomass did increase with seeding rate in the 120,000 to 300,000 seeds ac-1 treatments, but were all lower than the 60,000 seeds ac-1 treatment. In the no-till plots, the lowest seeding rate had the least biomass, and plant biomass increased with seeding rate, although there was little difference between the 240,000 and 300,000 seeds ac-1 treatments. When planted at 60,000 seeds ac-1, dry beans were able to make up for the low populations with increased biomass under a traditional tillage system, but that was not observed in the no-till system. 

Table 3. Statistical significance of tillage, seeding rate, and interactions on black 

bean productivity, Alburgh, VT, 2022.

Ɨ ***p<.0001; **.0001<p<.01; *.01<p<0.1

• NS; no significant difference between treatments.

Figure 1. Tillage treatment by seeding rate interaction for dry bean emergence populations, Alburgh, VT, 2022. Solid black line represents the target population for each seeding rate.

Figure 2. Tillage treatment by seeding rate interaction for whole bean plant biomass, Alburgh, VT, 2022.

Trial results by tillage treatment are summarized in Table 4. Dry bean emergence and whole plant biomass were both statistically greater in the tillage treatment compared to the no-till treatment. Average emergence was 142,861 plants ac-1 in the tilled plots compared to only 91,462 plants ac-1 in the no-till plots. Whole plant biomass was over 2X greater in the tilled plots (4779 lbs ac-1) than the no-till plots (2246 lbs ac-1). Weed biomass was over 40X higher in the no-till plots (441 lbs ac-1) than in the tilled plots (10.4 lbs ac-1). White mold incidence was very low in this trial, with a trial average of less than one plant in 20 with any signs of white mold, and there was no statistical difference between treatments. There was moderate lodging in this trial; the average score was 2.50. Lodging was statistically greater in the tillage treatment than in the no-till treatment. Despite the difference in emergence population, there was no significant difference in harvest population between treatments. Harvest moisture was statistically lower in the no-till plots than in the tilled plots, with moistures of 23.6% and 28.8% respectively. This is likely due to the later harvest date of the no-till plots. Both were quite high however and required additional drying prior to storage. Seed yield was statistically greater in the tilled plots (3079 lbs ac-1) than in the no-till plots (1392 lbs ac-1) despite the harvest populations being statistically similar.

Table 4. Results by tillage treatment for black bean seeding rate trial, Alburgh, VT, 2022.

1Whole bean plant and weed biomass assessed at R6/R7 growth stage to capture peak biomass. R6/R7 growth stage characterized by oldest pods having developed seeds (other parts of plant have full-length pods with seeds almost as large as first pods; pods will be developed over whole plant).

2Incidence; Out of 20 plants, number of plants with signs of white mold.

3Lodging; visual assessment of entire plot; 1=almost all plants erect, 5=all plants down.

†Within a column, treatments marked with the same letter are statistically similar (p=0.10); top performer is in bold.

‡LSD; least significant difference at the p=0.10.

• NS; no significant difference between treatments.

Trial results by black bean seeding rate are summarized in Table 5 below. Emergence population in the highest seeding rate was statistically higher than all other treatments and decreased as seeding rate decreased. Whole plant biomass was also statistically greater in the 300,000 seeds ac-1 treatment but was not significantly different from the 240,000 or 60,000 seeds ac-1 treatments. There were no statistical differences in weed biomass, white mold incidence, or plant lodging. Harvest populations were greatest in the 300,000 seeds ac-1 treatment, but not statistically different from the 240,000 seeds ac-1 treatment. Harvest moisture was lowest in the highest seeding rate (24.7%), but not statistically different from the 240,000 or 120,000 seeds ac-1 treatments. Seed yield was the highest in the 240,000 seeds ac-1 treatment, but this was not significantly different from the 300,000 or 180,000 seeds ac-1 treatments. 

Table 5. Results by seeding rate treatment for black bean seeding rate trial, Alburgh, VT, 2022.

1Whole bean plant and weed biomass assessed at R6/R7 growth stage to capture peak biomass. R6/R7 growth stage characterized by oldest pods having developed seeds (other parts of plant have full-length pods with seeds almost as large as first pods; pods will be developed over whole plant).

2Incidence; Out of 20 plants, number of plants with signs of white mold.

3Lodging; visual assessment of entire plot; 1=almost all plants erect, 5=all plants down.

†Within a column, treatments marked with the same letter are statistically similar (p=0.10); top performer is in bold.

‡LSD; least significant difference at the p=0.10.

• NS; no significant difference between treatments.

Due to significant tillage treatment by seeding rate interactions, results by seeding rate were also analyzed separately. Results are summarized in Tables 6 and 7 below. In tilled plots, dry bean emergence was statistically highest in the highest seeding rate. While whole plant biomass was statistically highest in the lowest seeding rate, this did not lead to increased seed yield at harvest. Plants were able to grow larger at a lower seeding rate, but did not produce a greater number of seeds. Harvest population and seed yield were both statistically greater in the highest seeding rate. 

In the no-till plots, black bean emergence was also greater in the higher seeding rates. There was no statistical difference in emergence between the 300,000 and 240,000 seeds ac-1 treatments. Whole plant biomass was highest in the 240,000 seeds ac-1 treatment, but not statistically different from the 300,000 seeds ac-1 treatment. Unlike the tilled plots, white mold incidence was statistically different between seeding rate treatments in no-till plots. The 120,000 and 240,000 seeds ac-1 treatments had no incidence of white mold, which was statistically lower than white mold incidence in the other three treatments. White mold incidence was quite low, and these differences may be due to plot location with the field rather than seeding rate. Harvest population and seed yield were both statistically greater in the 240,000 seeds ac-1 treatment. But harvest population in the 240,000 seeds ac-1 treatment was not statistically different from the 300,000 and 180,000 seeds ac-1 treatments. And although seed yield was highest in the 240,000 seeds ac-1 treatment, it was statistically similar to all but the lowest seeding rate.

Table 6. Results by seeding rate treatment for the tillage black bean seeding rate trial, Alburgh, VT, 2022. 

1Whole bean plant and weed biomass assessed at R6/R7 growth stage to capture peak biomass. R6/R7 growth stage characterized by oldest pods having developed seeds (other parts of plant have full-length pods with seeds almost as large as first pods; pods will be developed over whole plant).

2Incidence; Out of 20 plants, number of plants with signs of white mold.

3Lodging; visual assessment of entire plot; 1=almost all plants erect, 5=all plants down.

†Within a column, treatments marked with the same letter are statistically similar (p=0.10); top performer is in bold.

‡LSD; least significant difference at the p=0.10.

• NS; no significant difference between treatments.

Table 7. Results by seeding rate treatment for the no-till black bean seeding rate trial, Alburgh, VT, 2022. 

1Whole bean plant and weed biomass assessed at R6/R7 growth stage to capture peak biomass. R6/R7 growth stage characterized by oldest pods having developed seeds (other parts of plant have full-length pods with seeds almost as large as first pods; pods will be developed over whole plant).

2Incidence; Out of 20 plants, number of plants with signs of white mold

3Lodging; visual assessment of entire plot; 1=almost all plants erect, 5=all plants down.

†Within a column, treatments marked with the same letter are statistically similar (p=0.10); top performer is in bold.

‡LSD; least significant difference at the p=0.10.

• NS; no significant difference between treatments.

NY Results 2022

Within a column, treatments marked with the same letter are statistically similar (p=0.10). If no letters are displayed next to trait values, differences between treatments we not significantly different for that trait.

Aurora NY, No-Till

Aurora NY, Cultivated

Geneva NY No-till (field with known white mold infestation)

DISCUSSION

In the 2021-2022 growing season, the UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program initiated an organic black bean seeding rate trial to evaluate the impact of black bean seeding rate in two tillage systems: traditional tillage and no-till. A warm fall of 2021 resulted in very good winter rye cover crop establishment, and by the time the rye was rolled down in May 2022, it had produced over 3 tons of dry matter ac-1. The thick layer of rolled down rye did present some challenges when no-till planting black beans. Multiple passes were made with the no-till planter to cut through the dense mat of winter rye, to ensure good seed to soil contact. However, there was still delayed germination and low stand counts in the no-till plots as well as increased weed pressure, particularly within the rows, between plants. The thick layer of winter rye did suppress weeds between rows. The temperatures were cooler than average from June through September 2022 and resulted in 139 less accumulated Growing Degree Days than normal. There was 20.5 total inches of rain, 5 inches above average, during the season, but timely weed management was not an issue in the tilled plots. Weed pressure was 40X lower in the tilled plots than in the no-till plots. 

Planting black beans at increasingly higher seeding rates did increase emergence populations, but the effect varied in tilled versus no-till plots. Black bean emergence was below the target population for all seeding rates in both tillage treatments, but no-till planting black beans into rolled down rye resulted in even lower emergence. At the highest seeding rate (300,000 seeds ac-1), emergence in the no-till plots was only 144,680 plants ac-1, nearly half the target population, compared to 237,660 plants ac-1 in the tilled plots. Whole plant biomass was greater overall in the tilled system, likely due to better establishment. Interestingly, the lowest seeding rate produced the most biomass in the tilled system, indicating that black beans planted at low seeding rates will produce larger plants, likely due to increased space and resource availability. The increased biomass did not result in higher seed yields, however. Overall, black bean seed yield was greater in the tilled system and increased with seeding rate. Black beans planted at 300,000 seeds ac-1 in a tilled system produced yields that were statistically greater than all other seeding rate treatments. In the no-till system, while yields were greatest when planted at 240,000 seeds ac-1, this was not statistically different from black beans planted at 120, 180, or 300,000 seeds ac-1. This suggests that while improved seed yield will be observed from doubling the seeding rate from 60,000 to 120,000 seeds ac-1, there will be little benefit to increasing black bean seeding rate above 120,000 seeds ac-1 in a no-till system.

Market class x Tillage Trial -- Year 1 complete

2023 Preliminary Results:

Variety Trial -- Year 1 cultivated and no-till, Year 2 cultivated only

Organic variety trials were conducted in two Northeastern locations (Aurora, NY and Alburgh, VT) to evaluate alternative market classes to better understand variation in adaptation across a range of Northeastern environments. Little evaluation of alternative market classes has taken place in the Northeast in recent decades despite the increase in consumer demand. Consumers are interested in these alternative market classes (such as navy, small red, pink, pinto, great northern, cranberry, yellow, and heirloom/specialty) for their distinct culinary characteristics and visual appeal. Entries were chosen based on feedback from local stakeholders to identify varieties with high market demand and value as well as for agronomic performance (Table 1).

Organic variety trials were conducted in two Northeastern locations (Aurora, NY and Alburgh, VT) to evaluate alternative market classes to better understand variation in adaptation across a range of Northeastern environments. Little evaluation of alternative market classes has taken place in the Northeast in recent decades despite the increase in consumer demand. Consumers are interested in these alternative market classes (such as navy, small red, pink, pinto, great northern, cranberry, yellow, and heirloom/specialty) for their distinct culinary characteristics and visual appeal. Entries were chosen based on feedback from local stakeholders to identify varieties with high market demand and value as well as for agronomic performance (Table 1).

Table 1a. Organic dry bean varieties evaluated in Alburgh, VT, 2022.

Table 1b. Organic dry bean varieties evaluated in Geneva, NY, 2022.

Organic dry bean variety trials in a tilled system were conducted at both NY and VT locations. At the NY location, the variety trial was replicated in both a tilled and an organic no-till system. The organic no-till system entails planting cereal rye the previous fall, and terminating standing cereal rye at anthesis using a front-mounted I&J roller crimper at time of dry bean planting, creating a crimped cereal rye mulch that persists throughout the growing season.

The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications (Table 2). All soil fertility deficiencies were addressed prior to planting in accordance with state and regional soil test results. For the no-till variety trial, cereal rye (ND Gardner) was planted at the Geneva, NY location on 11-Sep 2021 at a rate of 160 lbs ac^-1 (3 million pure live seeds ac^-1). Prior to cover crop planting, 5-4-3 dry poultry manure was applied at a rate of 1,000 lbs ac^-1. In the tilled system, primary and secondary tillage were used to prepare an adequate seedbed for dry bean planting. Dry beans were planted on 31-May 2022 at the Alburgh, VT location, and on 15-Jun 2022 at the Geneva, NY location. At planting, 25 lbs N ac^-1 were applied as starter fertilizer. Dry beans were planted in 30-in rows at a depth of 1.5 to 2.5-in. Plant populations were based on seed size and market class and adjusted for germination. Small seeded varieties were planted at a target seeding rate of 110,000 pure live seeds ac^-1 and large seeded varieties were planted at a target seeding rate of 85,000 pure live seeds ac^-1. Weeds were managed before and after dry bean emergence according to best organic practices.

Table 2. Management details for dry bean variety trials at both trial locations, 2022.

Growth habit was assessed, and each variety was given a rating according to the growth habit classifications for dry beans, described in Table 2 below. Days to maturity was measured by recording the date at which most plants in each plot had reached maturity (growth stage R9: mature, at least 80% of the pods showing yellow and mostly ripe, only 30-40% of leaves still green). Growth habit classification for organic dry bean varieties for both locations are listed in Table 3 below. Statistical analysis was not conducted on growth habit.

Table 3. Growth habit classifications for dry beans.

Table 3a. Growth habits of organic dry bean varieties evaluated in Alburgh, VT 2022.

Table 3a. Growth habits and average 100-seed weight of organic dry bean varieties evaluated in Aurora, NY 2022.

Plants were harvested about 5 days after 95% of pods were brown or yellow. At the Alburgh, VT location, dry beans were harvested on 9, 15, and 21-Sep 2022 due to differences in harvest maturity between varieties. At the Geneva, NY location, all varieties were harvested on 26-Oct 2022. At harvest, pod height, lodging, and yield were assessed. Evaluations were done within two 1-m representative row lengths per plot from the center two rows. Pod height is the distance (cm) from the soil surface to the bottom of the lowest pod from 5 randomly selected plants in each of the two 1-m row lengths. Plots were given a lodging score on a 1 to 5 scale, where 1 means almost all plants are erect and 5 means all planted are down. Then all plants were removed and counted from the two 1-m row lengths and dried for 7 days at 60°C.  Plants were then threshed to obtain and record seed yield. Seed moisture at time was adjusted to 14% moisture.

Results

Weather data were recorded with a Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 weather station, equipped with a WeatherLink data logger at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT (Table X). The 2022 growing was cooler than normal with above average rainfall. There was a total of 20.53 inches of precipitation from June to September, 5 inches above average. The cooler temperatures resulted in a total of 2,106 accumulated Growing Degree Days (GDDs), 139 less than normal. The wet field conditions were challenging for timely weed management and mechanical cultivation, resulting in increased weed pressure especially later in the season.

Table X. Weather data for Alburgh, VT, 2022.

Based on weather data from a Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 with WeatherLink data logger.

Historical averages are for 30 years of NOAA data (1991-2020) from Burlington, VT.

Table. Weather data for Aurora, NY, 2022.

Based on weather data from Musgrave Research Station weather station and 30 yr averages from Northeast RCC CLIMOD2

The results of the organic dry bean variety trial at the Alburgh, VT location are listed below in Table 4. The top performers for each metric are in bold and any variety that was not statistically different (p=0.10) are marked with an asterisk (*). The earliest maturing variety was UC Southwest Gold, reaching R9 stage 85 days after planting. This was not statistically different from five other varieties, Cayenne, Desert Song, GTS 1701, California Early, and Merlot. The varieties Dr Wood, Soldier, UC Andino, UCD Holstein, and UCD Jacobs Cattle took the longest to mature, reaching R9 stage 113 days after planting, almost a month after the earliest maturing variety. At harvest, UCD Holstein had the highest population, 86,301 plants ac^-1, and that was not significantly different from eleven dry bean varieties. Dry bean yield at 14% moisture ranged from 569 lbs ac^-1 (Calypso) to 3,451 lbs ac^-1 (Blizzard). The top performer was not statistically different from nineteen dry bean varieties. The trial average score for lodging at harvest was 2.28, and the variety Desert Song had the most lodging with a score of 4.50, indicating that nearly all the plants were completely horizontal. This was not statistically different from nine other varieties. There was an average pod height of 3.30-cm. Zenith had the greatest pod height, 7.80-cm, and was not statistically different from eleven varieties.

Table 4. Organic dry bean variety trial performance summary, Alburgh, VT, 2022.

¹ Days after planting

² Lodging scale- 1= almost all plants erect, 2= either all plants leaning slightly or a few plants down, 3= either all plants leaning moderately (45°angle) or 25-50% down, 4= either all plants leaning considerably or 50-80% down, 5= all plants down

Table. Organic dry bean variety trial performance summary, Aurora, NY, 2022 – Tilled Trial.

Table. Organic dry bean variety trial performance summary, Aurora, NY, 2022 – Organic No-Till Trial.

Discussion

At the Alburgh, VT location despite cool, wet conditions during the growing season, many of the dry bean varieties included performed well. Days to maturity ranged from 85 to 113 day after planting. The cool, wet conditions made timely weed management challenging especially as the dry beans approached harvest maturity. Weed pressure was not measured in this trial but did result in some yield loss for varieties that had poor emergence. For example, Calypso (specialty/heirloom), a late maturing variety, had significant weed pressure resulting in low yields. Top yielding varieties ranged from early to late maturing varieties indicating that varieties with a range of maturities can achieve good seed yields in northern Vermont.  The lowest yielding varieties were all specialty/heirloom varieties. The top yielding varieties were navy and black bean varieties, but specialty varieties like UCD 1004 and UCD Jacobs Cattle had comparable yields.

At the Aurora, NY location periods of cool weather in June may have resulted in poor emergence and lower plant populations in the organic no-till trial. Drier than normal June and July followed by above average precipitation in August and September caused many varieties, particularly in the tilled trial, to put on new vegetative growth and flowers later in the season, causing excessive vining and uneven maturity. As a result, harvest was delayed until late October due to delayed dry down in many plots.  Despite these anomalies,  yields were overall high in the tilled trial. Yields were significantly lower in the organic no-till trial, in part due to much lower plant populations for most varieties. Weed pressure was low in the tilled trial and moderate to high in the organic no-till plots.

Alburgh VT Trials (2023):

Freeville NY Trials (2023)