Sowing date and weed competition effects on growth, phenology and yield of three white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars

Abstract

Suitable sowing date and weed management are the most important factors in crop production. In order to study the effect of sowing date and weed competition on some ecophysiological traits of different white bean cultivars a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out in 2009 in Semirom, Iran. The treatments consisted of three sowing dates (May10, May 25 and June 9) and three white bean cultivars (Shekoofa, Pak and Daneshkade) and two levels of weed infestation (weedy and weed free). Result showed that earlier sowing date, due to longer growing season, increased height, number of branches, number of days from sowing to flowering and the flowering period. The most leaf area index, leaf area duration and crop growth rate was obtained in May 10 sowing date. Weed interference significantly decreased leaf area index (41.6%), leaf area duration (37.7%) and crop growth rate (37.3%). Yield loss due to weed competition was more in later sowing dates than others. Shekoofa cultivar had higher grain yield because of higher leaf area index, more leaf area duration and more crop growth rate.