Effect of potassium application and follar spraying of boron at different stages on faba bean production

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Department of Field Crops, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad/Abu-Ghraib during winter season of 2013-2014. The main objective was to find out the effect of potassium levels (0, 41.5 and 83) kg K.ha-1 and foliar application of boron (100 mg.L-1) at different flowering stages (flower buds emergence, 25%, 50% and 75% flowering) in addition to control treatment (water spray only) on faba bean Spanish cultiver. Luz de Otono on setting and pod yield, layout of the experiment was a factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with four replications.Results showed that there was significant effect of potassium levels and the application of potassium at 83 kg K.ha-1 was superior in No. of racemes.plant-1 (124.7), No. of flowers.plant-1 (357.4), fertility percentage (6.6%), No. of pods per plant (24.3 pod. Plant-1), and green pods yield of plant (117.5 gm.plant-1).Foliar application of boron at flower buds emergence, flowering 25%, 50% and 75% of plants was superior in in giving least days to 100% flowering (102 day), and highest means for No. of racemes per plant (126.8), No. of flowers per plant (357.5), fertility percentage (6.3%), No. of pods per plant (23.2 pod.plant-1) and green pods yield of plant (118.4 gm. plant-1)Key words: faba bean , potassium, boron.