Leaf removal at six-leaf stage influences cowpea and common bean yield

Leaf removal at six-leaf stage of two cowpea and two common bean varieties found differing nutritional value of removed leaves and effects on grain yield and yield components in Iowa. Using the databases, we report leaf removal affected common bean stand density, pod density, seed number per pod, individual seed weight, grain yield, bean biomass yield, bean height, pod harvest index, and grain Fe and Zn concentrations in two growing seasons.
The second year of the study failed due to flooding of the plot site following extraordinarily intense and prolonged rainfall near Boone, Iowa.