Irrigation effects on the development and yield of determinate and indeterminate forms of autumn‐sown faba bean

Abstract

Large and erratic seasonal variations in yield of faba beans (Vicia faba L ) are attributed to the responsiveness of indeterminate cultiuars to changes in water supply. A field trial at the University of Nottingham School of Agriculture Farm examined the response of an indeterminate cultivar (Bourdon) and a determinate selection (858) to di&erent levels of water supply at diferent stages of growth. The trial was sown in the autumn of each of three consecutive seasons beginning in 1985.By limiting the availability of photosynthate to the reproductive sinks, water stress at the pod-filling stage reduced the numbers of each component of yield and so yield itself. It was suggested that this was the moisturesensitive stage.Bourdon was a larger plant and had more reproductive nodes than 858. However, although the yield of 858 was consequently less than that of Bourdon, it showed much less variation in response to water supply. I t is proposed that determinate forms may improve the yield stability of faba bean. 443 J Sci Food Ayric 0022-5142/90/$03.50 0 1990 SCI. Printed in Great Britain 444 C J Pilbeam, P D Hebblethwaite. A A Yusu]

Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Response to Tillage and Soil Residual Nitrogen in a Continuous Rotation with Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Rainfed Mediterranean Conditions

“…However, there was little increase in HI with rising seed yield. There was no correlation between TDM and HI (Table 2) These results disagree somewhat with the findings of Grashoff (1990), Pilbeam et al (1990), Silim and Saxena (1993), and De Costa et al (1997b), who reported that low HI is associated with high seed yield; therefore, high biomass may be a prerequisite to achieve high seed yields of faba bean. Sau and Mínguez (2000) reported that greater TDM production was not associated with higher seed yield due to low mobilization (reflected by a decrease in HI).…”

The Bean YEN: Understanding bean yield variation on UK farms

“…Even in the presence of adequate pollination, reduced light during overcast weather reduces flower retention. Faba beans are also very sensitive to water deficits during flowering and pod set (Pilbeam, Hebblethwaite, & Yusuf, 1990; Xia, 1994); these cause abscission of flowers and pods (Peat, 1983) and reduce the duration of flowering (Xia, 1994). This all supports the idea that the availability of assimilate during pod set is critical for yield determination, and that yield resilience will be enhanced if the number of flowering nodes (hence the duration of flowering) is increased.…”

“…First, it must be important to target water capture because Y bp was water limited at many sites, and many aspects of yield formation are susceptible to water deficits (Pilbeam, Duc, & Hebblethwaite, 1990; Pilbeam, Hebblethwaite, & Yusuf, 1990). Assumptions for achievement of Y bp are that water capture down to 1 m is possible whereas Bailey (1990) and Hebblethwaite (1982) consider that beans in the UK achieve 70 and 90 cm depth for spring and winter field beans (for sparse rooting, capable of extracting easily available water only).…”