A strict-field experiment carried out at the Mochełek Experiment Station of the Bydgoszcz University of Technology and Agriculture over 2000-2002 determined the effect of four plant densities prior to harvest (49, 67, 89, 107 plants per sq. m) on the seed yield and yield components for traditional ‘Nadwiślański’ and five self-completing ‘Tim’, ‘Titus’, ‘Optimal’, ‘Rajan’ and ‘Martin’ faba bean cultivars. Under poor soil conditions ‘Nadwiślański’ yielded 16% higher than the self-completing cultivars. Favorable moisture conditions over vegetation period enhanced ‘Nadwiślański’ predominance over the self-completing cultivars, however under moisture stress, especially over flowering, the difference in seed yield across the cultivar types studied was small. Traditional faba bean cultivar showed also the lowest seed yield range. An increased plant density from 49 to 67-107 plants per sq. m increased the seed yield significantly; however seed yield of ‘Nadwiślański’ was independent of plant density; the highest seed yield of ‘Martin’ was obtained for at least 89 plants per sq. m, whereas for the other faba bean cultivars – at least 67 plants per sq. m was required.

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