A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2004 on medium deep black clay soils under rainfed condition at Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, to study the response of field bean genotypes to date of sowing and plant population for fodder production and quality. The field been genotype Mani avare recorded significantly higher green forage yield (26.88 t ha-1) and dry matter yield (5.97 t ha-1) as compared to local avare (22.30 and 4.91 t ha-1, respectively) and Hebbal-3 (13.71 and 3.17 t ha-1, respectively).  Sowing in second fortnight of July recorded significantly higher growth and yield attributes, green forage (22.10 t ha-1) and dry matter yield (4.94 t ha-1) as compared to August first fortnight sowing.  Seed rate had no significant influence on fodder yield of field bean. Significantly higher interaction was recorded in Mani avare sown in July second fortnight at 125 kg per ha seed rate for green forage yield (27.77 t ha-1), net returns (Rs.12723 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.89).