Effect of Nano-Copper Fertilizer Concentrations on Some Growth Traits of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Varieties

• Aya Alaa Mousa1, Ayyub Juma Abdl-Rhmaan Al-Bayaty2

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The study was conducted during the 2025–2026 agricultural season in the Tikrit District – Salah al-Din Governorate to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying with copper oxide nanoparticles at concentrations (50, 100, 150 mg L⁻¹) compared to a control treatment on the plant's mineral content and some yield traits of three faba bean (Vicia faba L.) varieties (Iraqi, New Zealand, and Spanish), using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that spraying at 150 mg L⁻¹ of nano-copper fertilizer was significantly superior in increasing the content of mineral elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), with increase rates of 33.33%, 79.16%, and 7.45%, respectively, compared to the control treatment, demonstrating the efficiency of this concentration in enhancing mineral absorption and accumulation within plant tissues. The local variety also showed significant superiority in nutrient content compared to the New Zealand and Spanish varieties, achieving increase rates of 21.18%, 21.21%, and 8.07%, respectively, reflecting its genetic superiority in absorption efficiency and nutrient utilization. Regarding yield traits, copper oxide nanoparticle treatments contributed to improving the productive performance of the faba bean plant, as the 150 mg L⁻¹ concentration led to a significant increase in seed weight and individual plant yield, with increase rates of 21.18% and 40.68%, respectively, compared to the control. The local variety was also superior in these traits, achieving the highest values compared to the other varieties, while the interaction between the local variety and the highest nano-fertilizer concentration showed the best performance in most studied traits, confirming a clear synergistic effect between genetic efficiency and nano-nutrition. In contrast, the trait of number of seeds per pod did not show a significant response, indicating its genetic stability. Overall, the study confirms the effectiveness of copper oxide nanoparticles, especially at 150 mg L⁻¹, in improving mineral nutrition efficiency, this was reflected in the increased nutritional value of the seeds, and increasing faba bean productivity under local environmental conditions.

Study Location: This study was conducted during the 2025-2026 agricultural season at home in the Tikrit District – Salah al-Din Governorate using plastic pots for the period from October 10, 2025, to May 1, 2026, to study the effect of spraying with different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 mg/L) of nano-copper fertilizer on the growth of faba bean varieties at two stages: the first stage on December 10, 2025 (two months after planting), and the second stage on January 10, 2026 (three months after planting).

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