The water balance in faba beans (Vicia faba L.) and peas (Pisum sativum L.)
1994
Zarghami, R.
The objective of this study was to investigate the behaviour of different legumes against water stress. Influence of irrigation on yield, yield component, growth, pod No./plant, 1000-grain weight, number of nodes/plant, harvest index, maximum flowers/plant water potential, stomatal conductance, transpiration and tannin content in 6 crops of faba beans and peas were investigated. Field trails were used for these investigations. Seed yield of irrigated faba beans (averaged over the two seasons) was 50 dt/ha, about 30 greater than the yield of unirrigated plants. The increase in yield due to irrigation was mainly associated with an increase in total dry matter production, green area index and net assimilation rates. Furthermore, flower abscission is one important factor affecting seed yield and causing annual instability in the yield of faba beans. This study indicated that the number of pods per plant and 1000-grain weight of faba beans were the yield component most affected by irrigation with number of beans per pod affected to a leser exent. Grain yield of peas (averaged over the two seasons), did not vary significantly due to irrigation treatments. The results further indicated that the cultivars differ in their yielding ability and other characters under study. The present study showed strong dependence of leaf water potential on soil moisture. Total leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and transpiration of peas was always higher than in beans. It was concluded that the water stress susceptibility of field beans was thought about by reduced CO2 diffusion into the leaves, thus lowering net assimilation rates and yield. Grain yield of irrigated field beans was highly and strongly correlated with the average leaf water potential.
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