Effect of supplementary irrigation scheduling on growth, yield components and quality of faba bean (vicia faba .L) Under El- Osaita conditions, Libya

Abstract

A field study was conducted over two growing seasons at El- Osaita Libya, to evaluate the impact of supplementary irrigation (sp) regimes on the performance of faba bean (vicia faba .L) under semi-arid conditions. Three irrigation treatments were tested: rainfed (no irrigation), supplementary irrigation every 7 days and every 21 days. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design with four raplications, Results revealed that plant height, pod length, seed number per pod, seed weight, seed number and weight per plant and 100-seed were significantly improved under sp every 7 days compared to rainfed, conditions. Notably, the highest (103. 40cm), pod length (16.2 cm), seed number per pod (5.7), and seed weight of plant (35.1 g) ware recorded under 7 days treatment, Economic and biological yields were also significantly enhanced in the 2nd season under frequent irrigation, The harvest index and seed protein content showed marked improvement, with protein percentage up to 24. 65% in the first season. The study concludes that regular sp irrrgation every 7 days, enhances vegetative, and growth, yield components, and seed quality of faba bean in semi-arid environments. Therefore, adopting a 7- day irrigation interval is recommended to improve productivity under similar agro-climatic conditions.