ABSTRACT The cultivation of Coffea arabica L. in a low-altitude region is a sustainable alternative for diversifying the income of farmers. On account of the variability of available cultivars, the use of indirect selection through initial vegetative development may be an auxiliary tool for identifying the most suitable genotypes for this environment. This study aimed to identify the dwarf Arabica coffee cultivars with better initial development in a low-altitude region and the morphological traits with greater relevance for the early selection of cultivars with high yield potential. The experiment was installed in the northeast of São Paulo, Brazil. The experimental design used was randomized blocks with four replications. The treatments consisted of 17 dwarf Arabica coffee cultivars. There is variability among dwarf Arabica coffee cultivars for initial vegetative development. The growth and increase in the number of nodes of the plagiotropic branch can be used in early selection to identify cultivars with greater yield potential. The cultivars IAC Obatã 4739, Obatã IAC 1669-20, and Tupi IAC 1669-33 present higher initial vegetative performance in low-altitude environments. The results obtained are useful to breeders and producers for choosing the cultivars best adapted to cultivation in this environment.

RESUMO O feijão é a principal fonte de proteína dos países subdesenvolvidos, e o nitrogênio (N) é um dos nutrientes que mais limita a produtividade dessa cultura. Objetivou-se com esse trabalho, sob condição de campo: a) determinar por meio dos índices de eficiência como o N é utilizado por 16 cultivares de feijoeiro comum; and b) classificar estas cultivares em relação à eficiência de uso e responsividade à aplicação de N. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas por 16 cultivares de feijoeiro comum de grão comercial tipo carioca. As subparcelas foram compostas por duas doses de N: 20 e 120 kg ha-1 aplicadas em cobertura. As avaliações foram número de vagens por planta e grãos por vagem, massa de cem grãos, massa seca da parte aérea no florescimento pleno, massa seca de palha e de grãos na maturidade fisiológica e produtividade de grãos. Com base na matéria seca e no teor de nutrientes, os acúmulos de N foram calculados na parte aérea e nos grãos. As eficiências agronômicas, fisiológicas, agro-fisiológicas, recuperação e uso de N foram calculadas. A cultivar BRSMG Uai destaca-se pelas eficiências agronômica, fisiológica, de recuperação e de utilização. Os genótipos BRSMG Uai, BRS FC402, IPR Campos Gerais, IPR Maracanã e TAA Bola Cheia são eficientes e responsivos a aplicação de N em cobertura.

ABSTRACT Common beans are the main source of protein in underdeveloped countries, and nitrogen (N) is one of the nutrients the most limits the productivity of this crop. This study, under field conditions, aimed to: a) determinate through efficiency indices how N is used by 16 cultivars of common beans; and b) classify these cultivars regarding use efficiency and responsivity to N application. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in split-plot scheme, with four replicates. Main plots consisted of 16 cultivars of common beans commercially classified as ‘Carioca type’. Subplots comprised two rates of N: 20 and 120 kg ha-1 applied as top-dressing. The evaluations were number of pods per plant and grains per pod, hundred-grain weight, shoots dry matter at full flowering, straw and grains dry matter at physiological maturity and grain yield. Based on the dry matter and its nutrient contents, the N accumulations were calculated in shoots and grains. The agronomic, physiological, agro-physiological, recovery and use efficiencies of N were calculated. Cultivar BRSMG Uai stands out by agronomic, physiological, recovery and use efficiencies of N. Genotypes BRSMG Uai, BRS FC402, IPR Campos Gerais, IPR Maracanã and TAA Bola Cheia are efficient and responsive to top-dressing N application.