SIGNIFICANCE OF N-BIOFIXATION AND FOLIAR SPRAY WITH Zn AND Co ELEMENTS FOR IMPROVING FABA BEAN PRODUCTIVITY UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS OF MIDDLE NILE DELTA AREA, EGYPT

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on a clayey soil during two successive winter seasons of 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 at Damas village, Mit Ghamer district, El Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt to evaluate the effectiveness of seed inoculation with rhizobium and foliar spray with zinc and cobalt on faba bean (Vicia faba L.) yield and its components as well as seed protein and nutrient contents. Zinc and cobalt sulphates were applied at three rates of 0, 250 and 500 mg L -1 for Zn and 0, 15 and 25 mg L -1 for Co. Yield and its components (i.e., number of tillers plant -1 ), number & dry weight of nodules and nitrogenase activity of root nodules plant -1 at two investigated periods of 45 and 70 days from sowing as well as number of pods plant -1 , grain contents of protein and elements (i.e., N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Cu & Co). Soil content of available nitrogen forms (NH 4 + and NO 3 -Key words: Faba bean, N-biofixation, Zn or Co foliar spray, available nutrients in the soil and seed nutrient contents.