Research Objective
The study results did not support widespread, preventative foliar fungicide use and supported using fungicides based on actual disease pressure in the field. In some site-years, fungicide application provided a small yield benefit, but in most cases the increases were too small to cover the cost of the product and application. Overall, disease pressure was low during the study.
Target seeding rates of approximately 45 seeds/m2 were sufficient in most site-years in the study. Yield did not differ between seeding rates of 45 and 65 seeds/m2 in 13 of the 16 site years. Higher seeding rates provided yield benefits in three of the 16 site years, when high moisture and high-yielding conditions were present. Increased seeding rate also did not significantly impact days to maturity at most sites.
Earlier seeded faba bean plots generally yielded higher and were ready to harvest earlier than when seeding was delayed. At some sites, delayed seeding reduced days to maturity, but plots were still ready to harvest later than earlier-seeded sites.