Effect of pattern of water supply on Vicia faba L. 1. Dry matter partitioning and yield variability.

Abstract

V. faba cultivars including cv. Minica, Kristall, Alfred and Optica were grown with (a) full irrigation, or restricted irrigation (b) after the start of flowering, (c) after the end of flowering, (d) before flowering or (e) during flowering. Irrigation from the start of flowering stimulated vegetative growth but reduced initial reproductive growth and final seed yield compared with restricted water during flowering only. In 1982-84 using cv. Minica, treatment (e) gave high av. seed yields (7 t/ha), optimum harvest index (0.61 g/g) and a relatively small range of seed yields (2.2 t/ha), while (d) gave 7.1 t/ha, lower harvest index (0.57) and a small range of seed yields (1.4 t/ha). The other treatments and no irrigation gave much lower seed yields and a larger range of seed yields. Treatment (c) gave the lowest harvest index. Similar results were obtained with cv. Alfred. It was concluded that the amount and distribution of rainfall was a major reason for variability in seed yield of this crop. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)