EFFECTS OF SOME MICRONUTRIENTS AND METHODS OF APPLICATION AND RHIZOBIUM INOCULATION ON FABA BEAN

A factorial field experiment on faba bean crop was conducted in 1989 / 1990 season to evaluate the effect of some micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Mo and a mixture of them ) and methods of their application (spraying , coating and spraying + coating ) in the presence of inoclation of Rhizobium on faba bean charcteristics . The soil of the experimental site was clayey in texture and has a pH of 8. 56. The important results could be summarized as follows: 1)    Most faba bean characteristics increased in their values as a result of a single addition of Fe or Mn or Zn or Mo or mixture of them (in the presence of Rhizobium inculation) relative to the control treatment (uninoculated and non - fertilized ). Highest seed yields were ob‌tained by Mo and micronutrients mixture. 2)    Seed coating method gave better yields relative to foliar fertilization , but treatments using foliar fertilization beside seed coating gave the best yields. 3)    The siginificant interactions revealed that micronutrients effecincy is depentent on the method of its addition, where the highest faba bean seed yields were obtained by adding the mixture of these mi-cronutrients (using seed coating , and seed coating + spraying ). 4. Using inoculation with rhizobia, besides micronutrients addition, gave better faba bean seed yield and nodulation compared with the check treatment (uninoculated and non - fertilized ). Such result is attrib‌uted to the positive effect on rhizobium nodulation and subsequently increased N2 - fixation and seed yield.