
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Somerville, D. C. 
T1  - Honeybees (<emph type="2">Apis mellifera L.</emph>) increase yields of faba beans (<emph type="2">Vicia faba L.</emph>) in New South Wales while maintaining adequate protein requirements from faba bean pollen
JF  - Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
JO  - Aust. J. Exp. Agric.
Y1  - 2000
VL  - 39
IS  - 8
SP  - 1001
EP  - 1005
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/EA99023 
N2  - Summary. A trial was conducted to measure the impact of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) on faba bean (Vicia faba L.) yields and to determine the value of the crop to honeybees. The seed yield in cages with bees was 25% higher than in those without bees. The pollen harvested by honey bees from the faba beans met their nutritional requirements for protein and amino acids but there was no detectable nectar crop gathered from the faba beans. Thus, there seems to be a strong case for using managed honey bees to improve pollination and hence yields of Australian faba beans where feral bee populations maybe insufficient. 
ER  -

