2003 Volume 74 Issue 3 Pages 281-286
In order to identify the chemical properties of soil affecting calcium absorption of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) on farmer's fields, the calcium contents of several parts of broad beans and the chemical properties of soils were determined on 15 farmer's fields. The calcium contents of lower leaf, flower, and young pod which were sampled before commencing the harvest were negatively correlated with electric conductivities (EC), nitrate contents, and exchangeable potassium contents of the soils on the fields. Therefore the high nitrate content and the high exchangeable potassium content suppressed the calcium absorption of broad bean in the early growing stage. The calcium contents of shell, cotyledon, and upper leaf which were sampled at harvesting pod were positively correlated with exchangeable calcium contents of the soils. Therefore the high exchangeable calcium content facilitated the calcium absorption of broad bean in the late growing stage. The high nitrate content would affect the incidence of seed coat browning which is caused by calcium deficiency, more potently than the other properties of soils. The nitrate content had a bigger standard partial regression coefficient than the exchangeable calcium content did in the multiple regression model.
