Development and Yield Formation of Autumn- and Spring-sown Faba Beans in Northern Germany as Affected by Seasons, Sowing Dates and Varieties

Field trials were conducted with autumn- and spring-sown faba beans in Northern Germany during four seasons to examine the expected preceding development of autumn-sown plants, its possible transformation into a higher yield potential and its dependence on sowing dates and varieties. Height, appearance of leaves, inflorescences, mature flowers, potential and actual pot set was rated weekly, and flower initiation and tillering occasionally. Comparison was made for one winter type sown in autumn and spring, and between 6 winter types and 3 spring types, in two seasons each.
Development of autumn-sown plants significantly preceded that of spring-sown in each year, regardless of the plant material used. The mean advance, diminished considerably with time due to prolonged developmental phases in autumn-sown plants which, however, did not improve vegetative, generative or reproductive potentials of main tillers. Potentials formed by the six winter types, interacted strongly with the seasons, at least in part due to changing plant densities. Thus, only a very few traits appeared typical: a short stature with few leaves for Avrissot and the opposite for Bourdon , a high number of ripening pods for Avrissot and a low number for Banner . Early compared to late sowing in autumn increased the number of leaves, and in one year even the number of mature flowers and ripening pods per tiller, but values of early sowing never exceeded those of spring sowing. Enhancement of tiller formation by early compared to late sowing diminished after spring; nevertheless about two reproductive tillers per plant in autumn-sown stands always led to a higher density of tillers than in spring-sown.