Effects of plant population and arrangement on the yield of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Canterbury

Abstract

A study was carried out to examine the effects of plant population and arrangement on the yield of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Three field trials were sited on a Wakanui silt loam in the Lincoln College Horticulture Department's research area.

When beans were planted in a square arrangement, yields increased significantly with increasing plant populations up to 60 plants/m². Yield increases from higher densities were not significant. Yields from a square planting were 33 per cent higher than those from a highly rectangular row spacing treatment with the same plant population.

Density had no consistent effect on pod size distribution, date of maturity or spread of maturity. Individual pod fresh weight of the cultivars Gallatin 50 and Processor was not affected by density. Pod dry weight and percentage dry matter of cv. Gallatin 50 increased significantly at densities greater than 45 plants/m². Density had no effect on plant height, but decreased nodes/plant and thus number of branches/plant.