Synopsis Yield reductions of about 20% under visible moisture stress were measured in Washington state. Causes were as follows: reduction in number of pods before blooming; reduction in number of pods and number of beans per pod during blooming; and reduction in bean weight during maturing process. Plant development was retarded by stress before blooming and hastened during blooming and maturing. Irrigation before visible moisture stress appeared to offer no advantage.
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Robins et al. (1956) studied this question.