EFFECTS OF THE WEATHER ON GROWTH AND RADIATION INTERCEPTED BY FABA BEAN

The effects of the weather on growth and radiation intercepted by faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were studied in field grown plants throughout th e summer of 1991 and 1992. At 7-day intervals, measurements of leaf ar ea and plant dry weight were measured. The radiation intercepted by th e crops and the values of air temperature, solar radiation and rainfal l were collected throughout the season. Under the warmer summer of 199 2 the plants had a greater rate of leaf expansion but a shorter period of growth. The weather also had an effect on the ability of a crop to capture and to use light for the growth process. The different weathe r prevailing during the 1991 and 1992 seasons brought large difference s in the behaviour of the crops. A comparison of the classical and rad iation approaches to analyse the effects of the weather on crop growth showed that both the classical and the radiation methods were not abl e to answer if the differences were due to physiological or morphologi cal changes in the crops.