Two experiments were carried out at greenhouse conditions in nutrient solution and soil, using six nitrogen levels (28, 56, 84, 112, 140 and 168 mg/L of N) to adjust the chlorophyll meter readings (Minolta SPAD-501) to the nitrogen levels in the bean leaves. Chlorophyll content, leaf area, fresh and dry matter of leaves, N, Ca, Mg and S leaf concentration, and grain yield were evaluated. Good correlations were obtained between chlorophyll meter readings and nitrogen application rates (R = 0.86) and leaf nitrogen concentration (R = 0.75). These results indicate that the chlorophyll meter is a useful device to detect nitrogen deficiency in bean plants.
chlorophyll; nitrogen; beans; chlorophyll meter