Iron deficiency chlorosis (FeDC) can cause significant seed yield reduction in dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown on high-pH calcareous soils. To determine the effects of FeDC on seed yield, and the effect of Fe-spray as a correction factor for FeDC, 22 breeding lines/cultivars were planted on high-pH (8.0), calcareous (3.2–3.5 calcium carbonate equivalent), and low-Fe (1.8–4.2 ppm DTPA) sandy clay loam Tripp soils at Mitchell and Scottsbluff in western Nebraska. A split-plot design was used with Fe treatments as main plots and breeding lines/cultivars as subplots. Three foliar sprays of Fe-EDDHA (2.4 kg·ha–1) were applied at V4, R5, and R7 dry bean growth stages, during 1996 and 1997. Leaf chlorosis was measured simultaneously by using a Minolta Chroma-meter (CIE L* a* b* color space system), a Minolta Chlorophyll-meter (chlorophyll content index), and by visual ratings (1 = normal green to 5 = severe chlorosis). In 1996 no significant Fe-spray × line interaction (P = 0.776) and Fe-spray effect (P = 0.884) on seed yield was observed. Breeding lines showed significant differences in seed yield (P = 0.0001) with WM2-96-5 being the highest-yielding line (4047 kg·ha–1). In 1997 a significant Fe spray × line interaction (P = 0.029) was observed. The cultivar Chase without Fe spray (3375 kg·ha–1), and lines WM2-96-5 (3281 kg·ha–1), WM2-96-8 (3171 kg·ha–1) with Fe spray were the highest yielding entries under those treatments. Differences in visual ratings after the third Fe spray in 1997 were significant (P = 0.004) for Fe spray × line interaction. In 1996 visual ratings were different only for breeding lines. Chlorophyll content index showed a significant Fe spray × line interaction after the second Fe spray (P = 0.022) and after the third Fe spray (P = 0.0003) in 1997.
