Assessing emergence of bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed lots in France: Field observations and simulations

• Published in: European journal of agronomy 2008-04, Vol.28 (3), p.309-320
• Main Authors: Moreau-Valancogne, P., Coste, F., Crozat, Y., Dürr, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Germination; Life Sciences; Seedbed; Seedling; SIMPLE model; Sowing date
• ISSN: 1161-0301; 1873-7331
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eja.2007.09.003

Field emergence is crucial in determining the yield and quality of French beans for the canning industry. The aim of this study was to analyze the variation in bean emergence results, particularly to determine the relative influence of seed characteristics and sowing conditions. During 2004 and 2005, at two sites in France (North: 50.1°N, 3°E; West: 47.3°N, 0.3°W), field experiments were carried out in order to obtain information on bean emergence under a range of sowing conditions. Four seed lots of the cultivar Booster with differing germination and seedling growth parameters determined under laboratory conditions were sown. These field results were also used to compare observed results in the field with the simulations of a crop emergence model. Subsequently, the effects on crop emergence of a greater diversity of seed lots in the three main French cropping areas were simulated using the model. In the field experiment, germination rates were always high (80–100%). In contrast, final emergence rates varied from 56 to 90%, emergence lasting from 9 to 28 days. These differences were large between sowing situations but small between seed lots. Emergence was mainly delayed by low temperatures (