The Pollination of Hairy Vetch by Honey Bees1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Observations were made on the blooming period, nectar yield and concentration, and pollination of hairy vetch and on the population of foraging bees and some aspects of their behavior. The nectar secretion appears to be greatest early in the season if the vetch is not putting on much new growth, and poorest when the vetch is growing rapidly, is heavily diseased or is maturing much seed. Vetch with adequate number of pollinators yielded more than 10 times as much seed as unpollinated vetch. It is tentatively concluded that one strong colony of bees should be able to pollinate 3 to 5 acres of vetch adequately, but at least one colony would be needed for maximum pollination of an acre of vetch.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: