Impact Assessment of Abiotic Production Constrains of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) and Breeding Mechanisms for Acid Soil, Drought and Waterlogging Affected Environments

Abstract

Faba bean is one of the oldest crops grown in Ethiopia. It is used as a source of protein in human diets, as fodder and a forage crop for animals and for soil fertility improvement. Its production in Ethiopia is totally rainfed on nitosols, cambisol and vertisol. Ethiopia is the second largest faba bean producer next to China. However, its productivity has remained very low compared to the potential due to biotic and abiotic stresses coupled with poor crop management practices provided by farmers. Thus, this review deals with impacts of abiotic stress on the growth and performance of faba bean and its remedial measures for continues production. Among the abiotic stresses soil acidity, drought and waterlogging provide a hostile environment for faba bean growth. Both soil acidity and drought are worldwide problem and sensitivity to acid soils limits the usage of faba bean in some cropping systems. Hence, the low production of faba bean is attributed by high moisture stress in the northern block of the country and soil acidity in the western and central highlands of Ethiopia. As chocolate spot the major faba bean disease it can be aggravated by any abiotic stress. To overcome low production of faba bean on acidic soils liming is an immediate option but choice of acid-tolerant varieties may further reduce the amounts of lime requirement and makes farming more attractive. Likewise, terminal drought can be managed by early planting and use of early varieties. Additionally, physiological traits like deep root, stomatal conductance and osmoregulation enables as drought resistant mechanisms. Breeding faba bean for acid soil, drought and water logging problem areas is the best option for sustainable production of the crop and to address the resource poor farmers that produce faba bean in their cropping system.