Influence of Proceeding Crop and Foliar-Applied Micronutrients on Faba Bean Productivity and Seed Quality

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Sers Al-Layan Agricultural Research Station, ARC, Monofia Government, Egypt during 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons. It aimed to study the effect of proceeding crop and foliar-applied micronutrients on seed yield and quality of faba bean. Three proceeding crops were used, maize(S1) –maize- Eg- clovr(fahl) (S2) - soybean (S3). Moreover, three treatments of foliar-applied micronutrients were applied; one application after 45 day from sowing(M2) or two applications after 45 and 60 days from sowing(M3) compared to without application (as control(M1)).The experiment was arranged in split-plot design with three replications.The proceeding crop was occupied in the main- plots while the micronutrients treatments were arranged in sub-plots. The proceeding crop displayed significant difference in seed yield/fad, its components and seed quality. Faba bean after legume crops(S2 and S3) had highest values for all studied traits. All studied traits were affected significantly by foliar-applied micronutrients except number of branches/plant only in the first season. M3 displayed highest performance in seed yield/fad and its component and seed quality. All evaluated traits were affected significantly by the interaction except number of branches.Faba been after legume crops and, sprayed by micronutrients after 45 and 60 days from sowing(S2M3) exhibited the highest performance of seeds content from micronutrients and protein.S2M3 gave the highest values of total and net return (30881 and 20013 LE) and (36679 and 25686 LE) in two seasons respectively.The finding of this study is sowing faba bean after legume crops and spraying by micronutrients at 45 and 60 days after sowing.