With a view to defining the plant density and level of fertilization and liming for the bean crop ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in a natural low fertility soil (distrophic Red Yellow Podzolic), three field experiments were carried out in Lavras - MG. In the two first experiments the cultivar Pérola was utilized and the randomized block experimental design, with four replications and 4x4 factorial arrangement, involving four populations (120, 180, 240 and 300 thousand plants.ha-1) and four levels of fertilization and liming (0, 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 of the recommended doses of fertilizers and limistone for the level 2 of technology by the Comissão de Fertilidade do Solo do Estado de Minas Gerais) was adopted. In the third trial, the factorial arrangement was 2x4x4 involving two cultivars (Pérola and Carioca), four populations (100, 200, 300 and 400 thousand plants.ha-1) and four levels of fertilization and liming (0, 1/2, 2/2 and 3/2 of the recommended doses). The increase of the plant population reduced the plant height and the pod number per plant. The increasing levels of fertilization and liming raised the plant height, the pod number per plant, the grain number per pod and the one hundred grains weight.
Populational density; fertilization; soil acidity; Phaseolus vulgaris
