High-yield Cultivation Methods and Pest and Disease Control Techniques for Common Beans

The common bean, also known as kidney bean, second-season bean or green bean, is a plant of the genus Phaseolus in the Fabaceae family. It is an annual twining or nearly upright herbaceous plant. It originated in Mexico and Argentina in the Americas, and China began introducing and cultivating it at the end of the 16th century. The high-yield cultivation methods and pest and disease control techniques for common beans are as follows:

I. Variety selection

Common beans are divided into two types: dwarf and climbing. For dwarf-type varieties, suitable choices include Provider, 83-3 (Hebei), and New Zealand No. 3, among others; for climbing-type varieties, choose Shuangfeng No. 2 (Tianjin), Jiadouwang, Thailand trellis bean, among others. In our city, climbing-type varieties are suitable for trellis cultivation.

II. Sowing

1. Sowing time: sow around June 20 - July 10.

2. Fertilization and land preparation: apply 1000 kg of high-quality farmyard manure, 20 kg of diammonium phosphate, 30 kg of urea, and 100 kg of plant ash per mu. Open furrows at a row spacing of 55 cm, with a furrow depth of 30 cm. After applying fertilizer in the furrows and mixing it thoroughly with the soil, water along the furrows, then rake soil to form ridges with a height of 15-18 cm.

3. Sowing

(1) Seed treatment. Sun-dry the selected seeds for 12-24 hours. First soak them in a 1% formalin solution for 20 minutes to kill anthracnose pathogens on the seed surface. Rinse with clean water and dry. Before sowing, soak the seeds in a 0.5% copper sulfate aqueous solution for 1 hour to promote the development of rhizobia.

(2) Sowing method. Make holes on the ridges for sowing, with an average hole spacing of 25 cm. After making the holes, pour a little water into each hole, then sprinkle in a bit of fine soil, scatter 0.25 g of 2.5% trichlorfon powder into each hole, and then sow by dibbling, with 3-4 seeds per hole. Cover with soil 3-5 cm thick. The sowing rate is 3.5-4.0 kg per mu.

III. Field management

1. Thinning and replanting. The suitable period for thinning and replanting is from the emergence of the first basal leaf after seedling emergence to before the appearance of the first trifoliate compound leaf. Remove diseased, damaged and weak seedlings, and keep seedlings that are robust, free of pests and diseases, and have intact cotyledons, with 3 plants per hole. Such seedlings can grow their first compound leaf after 4-5 days. When there are insufficient seedlings, replant promptly while the seedlings are still small.

2. Fertilization and watering. For topdressing and watering, follow the principle of “less at the seedling stage, controlled at the vine-growing stage, and promoted at the pod-setting stage.” Depending on soil moisture, water once after the seedlings emerge to ensure uniform emergence, then control water appropriately afterward. When there are 3-4 true leaves, water once for vine growth in combination with setting up the trellis, and apply 25-30 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu to promote vine growth and expand the nutrient area. After that, until flowering and during the seedling-hardening period, control fertilizer and water to promote the transition of common beans from vegetative growth to reproductive growth.

3. Plant adjustment. When climbing varieties begin to vine after growing 4-8 leaves, set up a human-shaped trellis or fence trellis in combination with watering for vine growth; from the perspective of favorable light interception, a fence trellis is preferable. When plants age in the late fruiting stage, promptly remove diseased, old and yellow leaves from the lower part to improve lower-level ventilation and light penetration, and promote the sprouting of side branches and the flowering and pod-setting of dormant flower buds.

4. Harvesting. Harvest begins 60-70 days after sowing and can continue for 30-50 days. During the peak pod period, harvest once every 2-3 days.

5. Pest and disease control. The main pests include aphids and bean pod borers, among others. Aphids can be controlled with pesticides such as Yashijing and Weilübao. Bean pod borers can be controlled by spraying with a 2000-fold dilution of 21% Mieshabi emulsifiable concentrate. Diseases include common bean anthracnose and common bean viral diseases. They can be controlled with a 500-800-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder, or an 800-1000-fold dilution of 50% amobam aqueous solution, once every 7 days, for 3 consecutive sprays. A 500-fold dilution of Bingdubike can also be used for control.