effect of the planting date, row spacing and seed rate on grain yield and protein yield of faba bean (vicia faba l.) in rasht

in order to study the effect of planting date, row spacing and seed rate on grain yield and protein yield of faba bean (vicia faba l.), a split factorial experiment based on the complete randomized block design with three replications was conducted at research station of rice research institute of iran (rasht) during 2008-2010 for two years. experimental treatments were planting date in three levels of october 1, 16 and 31 as main plot and row spacing in three levels of 30, 40 and 50 cm and seed rate in two levels of 100 and 150 kg.ha-1 as sub plots. the results of mean comparisons showed the first year was superior to the second year in most traits. between the planting dates, planting dates of october 1 and 16 had maximum 100-seed weight, number of auxiliary branches, number of pods per plant and grain and protein yields, and were in the same group. between row spacing levels, 30 and 40 cm and between seed rates, seed rate of 150 kg.ha-1 produced maximum grain and protein yields. planting date of october 1 had the highest growth period with average of 234 days. based on the results of this research, planting date of october 1 and 16, row spacing levels of 30 and 40 cm, and seed rate of 150 kg.ha-1 is recommended for planting of faba bean (vicia faba l.) in fields of rasht due to high grain and protein yields.