Publication

The targeted audience to use this publication are North Dakota and northwest Minnesota farmers and crop advisers, including North Dakota State University Extension agricultural agents. This publication has been electronically available through NDSU Extension since May 2019, and the three pages are easily printed if hardcopies are needed. The publication’s data also has been presented during field tours and winter meetings. The main author conducted the majority of the research trials and wrote this publication. NDSU Extension Ag Communication edited the narrative and formatted content. Based on historic research in North Dakota, NDSU has recommended an established stand of 90,000 plants per acre for black and navy bean grown in wide rows. However, narrower row spacings and higher plant populations are trending in dry bean production, based on recent grower surveys. This publication summarizes NDSU research trials conducted in 2014 to 2018 in eastern North Dakota to evaluate potential yield increase of black and navy bean with higher plant populations and narrower rows compared to the traditionally recommended plant density in wide rows. A summary of the research indicated black bean seed yield was similar among three row spacings of 14-, 21- and 28-inches. A high black bean plant population of slightly more than 140,000 plants per acre increased yield only 3% compared to a population slightly less than 100,000 plants per acre. Narrow (14-inch) rows with navy bean plant populations of greater than 115,000 plants per acre increased yield 24% to 28% compared to wide rows with slightly more than 90,000 plants per acre. These data have been included as recommendations into a newly revised NDSU Extension dry bean production guide.