Productivity of common bean in relation to phosphate fertilizer and irrigation in a cerrado soil

The cultivation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with irrigation in c errado soils, requires the application of phosphate fertilizers. A field ex periment was carried out to study the effect of phosphate and water levels on the common bean grain yield in a clay Dark-Red Latosol. Treatments consi sted of three levels of phosphate fertilizer (250, 500 and 1.000 kg ha(-1) of P2O5) and two water levels (adequate and restricted), defined according to the water tension in the soil. It was cultivated the common bean cultiva r Carioca (four crops) in the dry season, in rotation with corn cultivar BR 201 (five crops) in the rainy season. The common bean grain yield increase d with phosphate levels in both water levels, being higher with the higher phosphate level and adequate irrigation. Restricted irrigation promoted a g eneral decreasing in grain yield but with less intensity in the soil with h igher phosphate availability. Corn grain yield also increased with the phos phate levels. The phosphate residual affects maintained a good grain produc tion for both crops throughout the various years of cropping.