Abstract:
'Tendercrop' and 'OSU 949' green snap beans were grown at
populations varying from 77,000 to 392,000 plants per acre with two
row spacings and six square arrangements ranging from 4 x 4 to 9 x 9
inches. Maximum yield of 10.1 tons per acre (32 percent sieve size
4 and smaller) was obtained from 'Tendercrop' with a spacing of 7 x 7
inches or 128,000 plants per acre. 'OSU 949' produced the highest
yield of 13.3 tons (31 percent sieve size 4 and smaller) at a spacing of
5 x 5 inches or 251,000 plants per care. Yields were significantly
lower when plants were in 24 or 36 inch rows than when the same plant
population was spaced 6 x 6 inches.
'OSU 949' appeared to be physiologically more efficient than
'Tendercrop' when plant stands were averaged, with 11 percent
smaller plants producing 56 percent higher pod yields. The plant-pod
ratio for the two varieties was 1.02 and 1.80, respectively.
The leaf area index of 'OSU 949' was less than 'Tendercrop,'
even though it yielded more. Plants grown in rows had a lower leaf
area index than plants grown in a square arrangement.
When harvested at the same time, closer spacings tended to
produce a higher proportion of smaller sieve-size pods.
