Effect of shelter, irrigation, and plant population on yield and yield components of navy beans (Phaseolus vulgarisL.)

In two growing seasons, navy beans cv. Sanilac were sown at populations ranging from 44 to 120 plants/m2 with or without irrigation and shelter in Canterbury. In the two seasons, rainfall was 156% and 66% of the long term mean. Irrigation had the largest effect on seed yield. In 1983/84 irrigated plants yielded 319 g/m2 and unirrigated plants only 278 g/m2. In the drier season, irrigated plants yielded 309 g/m2 while the dryland crop yielded only 131 g/m2. Shelter had only a small effect on seed yield, in only one season, despite reducing wind run by about 40%. Generally, higher plant populations resulted in higher seed yields particularly with irrigation. However in 1984/85, unirrigated crop yield with 30 plants/m2 was 135g/m2andat 120plants/m2 only 125 g/m2. The results indicated that navy beans should be grown with irrigation in Canterbury to be a viable farm option. High plant populations may produce higher yields and ease harvesting problems.