Landscape complexity benefits bumble bee visitation in faba bean (Vicia faba minor L.) but crop productivity is not pollinator-dependent

Faba bean (Vicia faba minor L.) is partially dependent on insects for pollination, but the degree of pollinator-dependency and whether crop productivity limited by insufficient insect pollination remain unknown. We monitored pollinators their foraging behaviors (i. e., legitimate flower visitation, nectar robbing extra-floral nectary visitation) in a total 20 fields single cultivar (Tiffany) 2018–2019. Focal were situated along gradient landscape complexity. In each field, experiment was established, where plants either bagged to exclude or remained open pollinator visits. addition, all flowers half open-pollinated pollinated hand measure pollen limitation. found that bumble bee abundance higher, visitor tended be complex landscapes with more semi-natural habitat, indicating potential higher landscapes. The showed number beans per pod lower compared other treatments one years, compensated individual weight, such there no effect mass plant. conclude able characterize value services we need an improved understanding how varies across modern cultivars, environmental conditions can increase or, as our case, cancel this pollinator-dependency.