In two growing seasons, navy beans cv. Sanilac were sown at populations ranging from 44 to 120 plants/m 2 with or without irrigation and shelter in Canterbury. In the two seasons, rainfall was 156% and 66% of the long term mean. Irrigation had the largest effect on seed yield. In 1983/84 irrigated plants yielded 319 g/m2 and unirrigated plants only 278 g/m2. In the drier season, irrigated plants yielded 309 g/m2 while the dryland crop yielded only 131 g/m2. Shelter had only a small effect on seed yield, in only one season, despite reducing wind run by about 40%. Generally, higher plant populations resulted in higher seed yields particularly with irrigation. However in 1984/85, unirrigated crop yield with 30 plants/m 2 was 135 g/m 2 and at 120 plants/m 2 only 125 g/m2. The results indicated that navy beans should be grown with irrigation in Canterbury to be a viable farm option. High plant populations may produce higher yields and ease harvesting problems.

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