A Comparative Evaluation of Nano, Mineral NPK, and Chitosan Effects on Yield Components of Two Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Varieties in Wadi Etba, Libya

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the 2024/2025 growing season in Wadi Etba, Libya, to evaluate the effects of mineral and nano NPK-fertilizers and chitosan on yield components of two faba bean varieties (local and imported) Seven treatments were tested: control, recommended mineral NPK (NPK M), recommended nano NPK (NPK N), chitosan, 50% NPK N + 50% NPK M, NPK M + chitosan, and NPK N + chitosan, arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates.

The results revealed significant effects of fertilization treatments and cultivars on all studied yield components and seed yield. The imported cultivar consistently outperformed the local one across all parameters. The combined application of NPK N + chitosan recorded the highest values for yield components, including number of pods per plant (25 and 22), number of seeds per pod (6.3 and 5.6), 100-seed weight (98 and 93 g), seed weight per plant (53 and 46 g), seed yield (4.6 and 4.0 t ha⁻¹), and harvest index (58% and 54%) for imported and local cultivars, respectively. followed by the combined application of 50% NPK N + 50% NPK M.

Combined nano NPK and chitosan improved yield performance and nutrient use efficiency than either treatment applied individually, suggesting that their integration could be an effective strategy for enhancing faba bean productivity under semi-arid conditions. The findings highlight the potential of integrated nano-fertilization strategies as a promising and sustainable approach to enhancing faba bean productivity while improving fertilizer-use efficiency and reducing dependence on conventional mineral fertilizers.