An examination of the effects of water stress on leaf growth of crops of field beans (Viciafaba L.):1. Crop growth and yield

Abstract

SUMMARYField beans (Vicia faba L.) were given three irrigation treatments in the field during two seasons to examine reduction in leaf area by water shortage, through effects on number of cells, cell volume and cell arrangement.The two crops behaved differently in the two seasons, presumably because of differences in environmental conditions. Season 1976 was brighter, warmer and drier than 1977. Water shortage reduced leaf area, dry matter and economic yield. The rate of leaf appearance and leaf longevity were also decreased by water shortage. The greatest biological and economic yields were produced by the wet treatment, followed by the medium and dry treatments. The treatment open to natural rainfall yielded least in 1976, but the second most in 1977. The yields of 1976 were considerably less than those of 1977.