Effects of soil drought during the generative development phase on seed yield and nutrient uptake of faba bean (Vicia faba)

Abstract

The effects of periods of drought during different phases of reproductive growth of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cv. Xichang Dabai were investigated in a pot experiment at Xichang Agricultural College, China. Parameters were total dry matter; seed yield; yield components; concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; and total uptake in different organs. All drought treatments decreased total dry matter production and seed yield per plant. Plants subjected to drought from initiation of pod-set to full pod-set (stage D4) produced 32% less total dry matter and 45% less seed yield than the irrigated control. Mean seed weight was a relatively stable yield component. Statistical analysis indicated that only plants subjected to drought at stages D4 and D5 (drought from full pod-set to maturity) had a significantly (P < 0·05) lower mean seed weight than the control. The nutrient concentration was generally high in the younger or more active organs of faba bean, and comparing the nutrients, the N concentration in leaves, stems, flowers, pods, and grain was greatest, followed by K concentration, and P concentration was least. All soil drought treatments decreased the nutrient concentration in various organs after 17–19 days of drought. However, the decreases at maturity were less clear, except the nutrient concentrations in stems and leaves. Water deficit significantly decreased total grain nutrients per plant, the decreases being 34–45% for N uptake, 34–47% for P uptake, and 33–46% for K uptake. Simple linear correlations with the P and K concentration in leaves at maturity and number of pods and seeds per plant gave a correlation coefficient (r) of 0·804–0·874.

Nutrient uptakes and their contributions to yield in peanut genotypes with different levels of terminal drought resistance

“…It is still necessary to identify information gaps in the research and suggest future needs. According to Xia (1997), N, P, and K uptake decreased significantly under water stress in faba bean. In a study carried out with chickpea, 11 screened cultivars varied greatly with respect to nutrient uptake in both optimal and drought conditions (Gunes et al, 2006).…”

Drought sress and the distribution of vegetative and reproductive traits of a bean cultivar

“…In general, the number of pods per plant seems to be the yield component that is most affected by drought stress during flowering and can reduce final grain yield up to 70% depending on the dura-tion and intensity of the stress period (Lopez et al, 1996). On the other hand, the number of seeds per pod of dry beans seems to be a more consistent yield component under drought stress and seed size variation has been reported to be of minor importance (Xia, 1997;Farah, 1981). However, less is known about the impact of drought stress on the distribution of flowers and pods of different nodes and plant axes.…”

“…Soil water deficits that occur during the reproductive growth are considered to have the most adverse effect on crop yield (Costa-Franca et al, 2000;Baigorri et al, 1999). Several studies have shown that water deficits imposed during the reproductive development of dry beans can decrease the number of flowers, pods and number of seeds per pod (Xia, 1997;Loss & Siddique, 1997). The total number of flowers in some varieties may be reduced up to 47% under drought conditions affecting the number of pods per plant.…”

Cambios en el rendimiento y sus componentes en frijol bajo riego y sequía

“…El estrés hídrico tiene su efecto más adverso durante la fase reproductiva (Costa et al, 2000). Diversos estudios muestran que se reduce el número de flores, vainas y semillas por vaina (Xia, 1997), en algunas variedades de frijol la sequía disminuye hasta 47% el número de flores, afectando el número de vainas por planta (Nuñez et al, 2005). También se ha observado que el aborto de vainas bajo condiciones de estrés hídrico puede variar de 21 a 65% (Mwanamwenge et al, 1999).…”