Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T07:55:20.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Physiology of seed yield in field beans (Vicia faba L.): I. Yield and yield components

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Hassan M. Ishag
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Botany, University of Reading, Berks

Summary

The growth and yield of four varieties of field beans were studied in field experiments in 1967 and 1968.

Seed yield of the varieties Albyn Tick, Herz Freya, Blue Rock and Maris Bead were similar (averaging 6600 kg/ha) in 1967, but in 1968 Albyn Tick and Herz Freya (averaging 6400 kg/ha) outyielded Maris Bead (5700 kg/ha). Yield in both seasons were substantially more than the national average yields for Britain (about 3000 kg/ha). In 1968, yields were 40% greater at 57 plants/m2 (7100 kg/ha) than at 36 plants/m2 (5100 kg/ha).

Yield was closely correlated with number of pods/plant. The number of pods/node regulated this rather more than the numbers of nodes forming pods. Mean seed weight and seed number/pod varied little between plant densities but variety means were significantly different.

Maximum numbers of immature pods were present in late June. By mid-July 35% of the immature pods had shed, mainly from the middle and top of the range of podbearing nodes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bond, D. A., Fyfe, J. L. & Toynbee-Clarke, Gillian (1964). Male sterility in field beans Vicia faba L. II. Yield trials of FI hybrid winter beans produced with the aid of male sterility. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 63, 235–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenwood, H. N. (1958). Investigations into field beans at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany. Jl R. agric. Soc. 119, 52–6.Google Scholar
Hodgson, G. L. & Blackman, G. E. (1956). An analysis of the influence of plant density on the growth of Vicia faba. II. The significance of competition for light in relation to plant development at different densities. J. exp. Bot. 8, 195219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horne, F. R. (1966). British fodder crops excluding Maize. Outl. Agric. 5, 95103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ishag, H. M. (1969). Physiology of seed yield in Vicia fabaL. Ph. D. Thesis Reading University.Google Scholar
Johnson, B. E. & Addicot, F. T. (1967). Boll retention in relation to leaf and boll development in cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. Crop Sci. 7, 571–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, L. H. (1963). The effect of soil moisture gradient on the growth and development of broad beans (Vicia faba L.). Hort. Res., Edinb. 3, 1326.Google Scholar
Kambal, A. E. (1969). Components of yield in field beans, Vicia faba L. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 72, 359–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leonard, E. R. (1962). Inter-relations of vegetative and reproductive growth with special reference to indeterminate plant. Bot. Rev. 28, 353410.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McEwen, J. (1970). Fertilizer nitrogen and growth regulators for field beans (Vicia faba L.). II. The effect of large dressings of fertilizer nitrogen, single and split applications, and growth regulators. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 74, 6772.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge (1960/1961). Annual report, 1960/61.Google Scholar
Smith, B. F. & Aldrich, D. T. A. (1967). Spring bean variety trials 1954/65. J. natn. Inst. agric. Bot. 11, 114–32.Google Scholar
Soper, M. H. R. (1952). A study of the principal factors affecting the establishment and development of the field bean (Vicia faba L.). J. agric. Sci., Camb. 42, 335–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar