The response of an autumn-sown determinate faba bean to different plant distributions.

SUMMARY The response of an autumn-sown determinate selection, 858, to different plant distribution patterns was examined in field trials during the two seasons 1985/86 and 1986/87 at the University of Nottingham. Plants were sown at two densities (20 and 40 plants per m2) and at three different row widths (11.9, 23.8 and 47.6 cm) in the autumn of each season. Plant numbers and combined yields were greater in 1986/87 than in 1985/86. Grain yield was unaffected by differences in inter-row spacing and this was ascribed to the early attainment of complete ground cover even when plants were grown in widely spaced rows. Yield was most strongly correlated with seed numbers per m2. An examination of yield on a per plant basis suggested that narrow inter-row spacings were more productive at low plant densities, while yield per plant was greater at higher densities if the crop was grown on wider inter-row spacings. It was concluded that autumn-sown determinate forms of faba bean were able to compensate for large changes in plant distribution and consequently yield was unaffected.