Compost (C), chicken manure (M), bone ash (BA) and triple superphosphate (TSP) were evaluated as fertilizers for common beans on a P-fixing Andosol from Nicaragua, in a pot experiment. Three different levels, based on phosphorus content, of each fertilizer were used. BA- treatments did not have any major effect on growth of bean plants, probably due to slow dissolution rate of calcium phosphates. The high content of macro- and micro-nutrients in compost and chicken manure in most cases significantly increased the growth of bean plants, enhanced nodulation and increased uptake of P, N, Ca, Mg, S, Mn and Cu as compared to TSP, bone ash and the control. Only the highest level of TSP significantly increased plant growth, nodulation and uptake of major nutrients. Clear correlations were found between dry weight of nodules and N- and S- uptake, concentration of Cu and P and added P. A lower fertilizer level of C, M, and BA resulted in a higher phosphorus utilization efficiency than at higher levels. The effect of TSP was the inverse. The organic manures seemed to have lowered the capacity of the soil to fix phosphorus and increased the availability of macro- and micro-nutrients.