Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x5gtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-02T16:25:58.356Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effect of sowing date and season on the development and yield of Navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) in south-east England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. H. Scarisbrick
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Wye College (University of London), Nr Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH
M. K. V. Carr
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Wye College (University of London), Nr Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH
J. M. Wilkes
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Wye College (University of London), Nr Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH

Summary

The results of experiments in which Navy beans (cv. Purley King) were precision drilled at the beginning, middle and end of May in 1972, 1973 and 1974 suggest that the optimum time to sow is mid-May when soil temperatures at 10 cm depth have reached 12–13 °C. Earlier sowing usually led to a reduced plant stand and low yields whilst in 1972 and 1974, two exceptionally cool years, later sowing resulted in lower yields following a reduction in 1000-seed weight.

Despite contrasting weather conditions acceptable yields of seed were obtained in all 3 years from mid-May sowings although cool wet conditions in the autumn of 1974 curtailed drying of the seeds below 30% moisture content. Accumulated temperatures (Ontario units) were successfully used to predict stages in crop development and the data used to demarcate the areas in England most suitable for Navy-bean production.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Austin, R. B. & McLean, M. S. M. (1972). Some effects of temperature on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Photosynthetica 6, 4150.Google Scholar
Brown, D. M. (1963). A heat unit system for corn hybrid recommendations. Unpublished paper presented to the fifth National Conference on Agricultural Meteorology, Lakeland, Florida.Google Scholar
Brown, D. M. (1969). Heat units for corn in southern Ontario. Ontario Department of Agriculture and Food. Information leaflet Agdex 111/31.Google Scholar
Bunting, E. S. & Gunn, B. E. (1974). Maize in Britain – a survey of research and breeding. Annual Report of the Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge, 1973, pp. 3274.Google Scholar
Carr, M. K. V. (1975). Climatic and soil requirements. In Maize Growers' Handbook (ed. Milbourn, G. M.) (in the Press).Google Scholar
Davis, J. H. C. (1973). From A., Evans (1974). Exploitation of the variability in plant architecture. Proc. of the Institute of Applied Technology Seminar on the Potential of Field Beans and other food legumes in Latin America, Cali, Colombia 1973, pp. 279–86.Google Scholar
Hardwick, R. C. (1973). Growth and developmental studies – French beans. Annual Report of the National Vegetable Research Station, 1972, pp. 55–6.Google Scholar
Hough, M. (1970). Accumulated temperature above 10 °C in relation to maize. Agricultural Memorandum, Meteorological Office, Bracknell, no. 346.Google Scholar
Pickett, L. K. (1973). Mechanical damage and processing loss during Navy bean harvesting. Transactions of the American Society Agricultural Engineers 16, 1047–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scarisbrick, D. H. & Wilkes, J. M. (1973). The effect of drilling date on the seed yield of the Navy bean (P. vulgaris). Nature, London 242 (5400), 619–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scarisbrick, D. H. & Wilkes, J. M. (1975). Effect of drilling date on the seed yield of the Navy bean (P. vulgaris). Horticultural Research 14, 117–21.Google Scholar