Influences of Ridge Width and Foliar Spraying of Amino Acids Compounds on Yield and Quality of Two Faba Bean Cultivars

Abstract

A two-year study was carried out at the Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, during 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 seasons to evaluate seed yield and quality of two faba bean cultivars to different rates of amino acids compounds under narrow and wide ridges. Two faba bean cultivars Sakha 1 and Masr 3 were grown in two ridge widths 60 and 120 cm and received five rates of amino acids compounds (Power mix at rates 1.5 cm⋅L−1 “Pm1” and 3.0 cm⋅L−1 “Pm2”, Super mix at rates of 3.5 cm⋅L−1 “Sm1” and 7.0 cm⋅L−1 “Sm2”, as well as, water only “control treatment”). The treatments laid out in a split split plot distribution in randomized complete blocks design in three replications were used. Ridge width was randomly assigned to the main plots, faba bean cultivars were allocated in sub-plots and amino acids compounds were allocated in sub sub-plots. Shoot chemical composition and photosynthesis pigments, as well as, chemical composition in seed traits of faba bean were tested in the laboratories of Plant Physiology Section, Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. Wide ridge had higher nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), total sugars and total free amino acids concentrations in faba bean shoot and seeds in addition to chlorophyll a (Chl a) and chlorophyll b (Chl b) in faba bean shoot, as well as, most seed yield attributes than those of the narrow one. Faba bean cultivar Sakha 1 had higher values of seed yield, yield attributes and quality than Masr 3 that achieved higher seed antioxidants. Also, amino acids compounds affected significantly all studied traits of faba bean plants. Pm2 recorded the highest values of chemical composition in faba bean shoot and seeds. Moreover, Pm2 gave the highest seed yield and yield attributes compared to others. The interaction between ridge width and faba bean cultivar was significant for total sugars and carotenoids concentrations in faba bean shoot and 100-seed weight, as well as, seed N content. Also, the interaction between ridge width and amino acids compound had significant effects on shoot and seed N, P, K concentrations, number of pods plant−1 and seed yield ha−1, as well as, total soluble phenols and total free amino acids concentrations. Moreover, the interaction between faba bean cultivar and amino acids compound had significant effects on shoot Chl a and b concentrations, number of seeds pod−1 and seed yield plant−1, as well as, seed N, total soluble phenols and total free amino acids concentrations. Wide ridge x faba bean cultivar x amino acids compound interaction had significant effects on photosynthesis pigments, number of seeds pod−1 and seed yield ha−1, as well as, seed N, total sugars, total soluble phenols and total free amino acids concentrations. High seed yield and quality were recorded by growing faba bean cultivar Sakha 1 in wide ridge with foliar spraying at rate of 3.0 cm⋅L−1 of power mix. On the other hand, growing faba bean cultivar Masr 3 in narrow ridge with foliar spraying at rate of 3.5 cm⋅L−1 of super mix had good antioxidants in faba bean seeds.