INFLUENCE OF PLANT DENSITY ON SEED YIELD OF THREE CULTIVARS OF VICIA FABA L.

Trials were carried out on autumn sown broad beans over 3 years to investigate the effects of four plant density ranging from 3 to 24 plant/m² on seed yield and plant development of four cultivars biomorphologically different.

Plant density showed a marked influence; while seed yield increased linearly by increasing plant density, the number of stems per plant and the stems lacking pods fell progressively. Plant height decreased as plant spacing increased; node of first pods was higher as plant space decreased.

Among cultivars the higher seed yield was obtained from Gemini and Locale di Bronte; furthermore the cv. Gemini took much more advantage from the higher amount of rainfall.

A great variability was observed among years as far as plant development and seed yield, due probably to the different amount of rainfall; seed yield was 4.0–1.6 and 1.9 t/ha respectiveli for 1976–1977 and 1978.