EFFECT OF SOWING DATE AND PLANT DENSITY ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TWO FABA BEAN (Vicia faba, L. ) CULTIVARS

Abstract

Two field trials were conducted at the Agric. Exp. Sta., Fac. Agric., CairoUniversity, in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 growing seasons. The objective was studying the response of two faba bean cultivars (Giza 843 and Cairo 375) to three plant densities (22, 33 and 44 plants/m²) under three sowing dates (October 15th, November 5th and November, 25th) .The most important results could be summarized as follows: Seed yield /faddan, seeds/plant, number of pods and harvest index of 5 November sowing were significantly higher than those of 15 October or 25 November sowing dates. However, branches/plant (no.), plant dry weight and biological yields of early sowing (15 October), were significantly the highest. Yields of faba bean/fad and harvest index had significantly increased with increasing plant density to 44 plants /m², but the other individual plant characters tended to decrease with the increase of plant density. Cairo 375 cultivar significantly surpassed Giza 843 in seed and biological yields /faddan, harvest index and number of pods and seeds/plant but the former had lighter seed index and plant dry weight than the later. Significant varietals responses to sowing date and plant density had detected.The maximum seed yield (2 ton / fad.) could achieve by sowing Cairo 375 cultivar on 5 November with a plant density of 44 plants /m².