Influence of early water deficit on seed yield and quality of faba bean under arid environment of Saudi Arabia.

摘要

Under limited water resources of arid and semi-arid environment, the great challenge of developing agriculture is to increasing water use efficiency. For that field traits in Complete Randomize Block Design were carried out in Agriculture Research Station, Faculty of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Derab, near Riyadh, King Saud University. The experiments included six water irrigation schedules viz., 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, 7000 and 7500 m3/ha. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of water regimes at different growth stages, starting from complete emergence to full maturity stage and its reflected on seed yield and quality of faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Seeds of Giza 957 variety were used in the present investigation. Data recorded included some growth parameters, at flowering stage i.e., plant height, no. of tillers, no. of leaves and leaf area. Whereas, at harvest time, seed yield as well as yield component were also determined. Seed quality was also considered by estimated protein content, fat and carbohydrate content in absolutely dry seeds. As expected, results indicated that, slight decrease in most yield and yield component characters viz., no. of pods/plant, seed weight/plant in (g), 100-seed weight in (g). Concerning seed quality, data obtained reveal that, high crude protein and carbohydrate percent in seeds were accompanying with low water applied levels. In contrast, seed moisture content was increased with increasing water supply. Finally, we can conclude that influences of drought at the lowest level of applied water less than 4000 m3/ha severely retards seed yield,whereas water supply at 7000 m3/ha could be conserved for growing faba bean under arid environment of Saudi Arabia and gave the highest seed yield.