Allometric relationships between leaf area and vegetative characteristics in faba bean

this study was conducted to find allometric relationships between green leaf area and green leaf dry weight, vegetative dry weight and plant height in faba bean. To this, a randomized complete block design as split plot-factorial experiment with four replications was carried out at the research field of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources during 2010-2011 growing season. inter-row spacing (30, 45 and 60 cm) and factorial of sowing date (15 Nov. and 24 Dec 2011) and cultivar (Barakat and French) were placed in main-and sub-plots as main plots, respectively. Plant samplings were carried out during growing season with 15 days intervals up to end of the effective leaf formation. At each sampling, leaf area, leaf dry weight, above ground vegetative dry weight and plant height were measured. To describe the relationships between leaf area and the above mentioned vegetative characteristics, different equations were evaluated and a power equation (Y=aXb) was choosed due to a better fit to the date, finally. Relationships obtained for faba bean cultivars, inter-row spacings and planting dates were consistent and only the relationship between leaf area and dry weight of vegetative components was affected by planting date. Hence, two separate equations were estimated for each of tow sowing dated. Since the relationship between leaf area. Y. and green leaf dry weight, X, (Y=176.7X0.935) has a higher determination coefficient and a smaller root mean square error than the plant height, using it can be proposed in the simulation models and quick estimation of green leat area of faba bean, especially when accurate measuring device for measuring leaf area are not available.