A field experiment, carried out in 2021-2022, determined the effect of different mineral and nanopotassium fertilizer combinations on the growth and yield traits of the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) at the District Al-Rumaytha, Iraq. The experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) had a split-plot arrangement and three replications. The main plots consisted of fertilizer application once and twice—first at planting, and the other at the beginning of flowering. The subplots comprised four fertilizer combinations of traditional recommendation and nano-potassium: 75% traditional + 25% nano-potassium, 50% traditional + 50% nano-potassium, 25% traditional + 75% nano-potassium, and nano-potassium recommendation. With the fertilizer level of 75% traditional + 25% nano, the average pods per plant, seed yield, and protein percentage were 23.08, 5466, and 30.67%, respectively. The nano recommended level averaged 24.17 cm, superior for pod length. However, the number of seeds per pod and 100-seed weight did not differ across the different fertilizer levels. With the second addition phase, the pods per plant, seed yield, and protein percentage emerged significantly enhanced with values of 20.47, 4850 kg ha-1, and 27.66%, respectively.
Faba beans, fertilizer level, nano-potassium, growth and yield traits
The fertilizer combination of 75% traditional + 25% nano-potassium produced more pods per plant and seed yield than other fertilizer combinations in faba beans (Vicia faba L.). The fertilizer’s second addition phase outperformed the first for pods per plant and seed yield. The highest seed yield occurred with 75% conventional + 25% nano-fertilizer at twice addition.