Role of Rhizobium Inoculation and Addition of Zinc and Iron on Some Growth Indicators of Fava Beans in Gypsiferous Soil

• Omer Y.Ali , Salahaldeen H. M. Altai,

  Author

A field experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) at the University of Tikrit – College of Agriculture fields – Soil and Water Resources Department Station, during the autumn agricultural season of 2025 (starting on September 15, 2025 The The purpose of this study the effect of inoculation with Rhizobium bacteria at two levels (inoculated and non-inoculated), the addition of zinc and iron at three levels (0, 3, 6) along with  control treatment no addition), and their interactions on some growth indicators of faba bean plants grown in gypsiferous soil. The triple interaction treatment (inoculation + Zn3 + Fe3) was superior to the control treatment, achieving increases in the number of root nodules, their fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and leaf area by (88.33, 1.75, 44.69, 99.70, and 31.10), respectively. The results of sole inoculation also showed the superiority of the inoculated treatment over the non-inoculated one, with increases in the number of root nodules, fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and leaf area by (73.85, 1.33, 38.73, 88.99, and 25.61), respectively. The results of zinc addition showed superiority over the control treatment, with the Zn3 level giving the highest values for all traits, achieving increases in the number of root nodules, fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and leaf area by (63.56, 1.06, 40.20, 86.93, and 25.59), respectively. The results also showed the superiority of inoculation combined with zinc, where the Zn3 level gave the highest values, achieving increases in the number of root nodules, fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and leaf area by (84.33, 1.68, 42.64, 95.45, and 27.53), respectively. The results indicated that iron addition was significantly superior to the control treatment, with the Fe3 level outperforming others, achieving increases in the number of root nodules, fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and leaf area by (57.72, 0.92, 37.42, 87.50, and 25.88), respectively. The results of inoculation combined with iron also showed superiority over the non-inoculated treatment at the Fe3 level, achieving increases in the number of root nodules, fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and leaf area by (76.66, 1.48, 40.81, 94.59, and 28.01), respectively. Furthermore, the binary interaction between zinc and iron was superior, with the level (Zn3+Fe3) recording the highest values compared to the non-addition treatment, achieving increases in the number of root nodules, fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and leaf area by (66.50, 1.11, 41.97, 93.65, and 28.73), respectively.

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