Effects of defoliating different zones on the plant in field beans (Vicia faba L.)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The mean yield of grain of untreated spring field beans was 2750 kg/ha. By the use of differential defoliation, upper and lower limits were set for the photosynthetic contributions of four zones to this yield:(i) stems and pods 0–300 kg;(ii) leaves below first flowering node 280–1150 kg;(iii) leaves on first nine flowering nodes 720–2100 kg;(iv) leaves above first nine flowering nodes 260–1150 kg.The evidence suggested that all zones functioned below their full photosynthetic efficiency when other zones were present and that competition between zones for sites to store carbohydrate was a greater limiting factor than mutual shading.