Interactive Effects of Calcium and Boron Application on Nutrient Content, Growth and Yield of Faba Bean Irrigated by Saline Water

Faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. Nobaria 12) was grown under saline irrigation water (1.0% Sea salt ECiw = 15.2dS m-1) and none saline water (Control, ECiw = 0.64dS m-1) and subjected to soil application of calcium (0,100 and 200ppm Ca as Calcium hydroxide) and foliar application of boron (0, 5 and 10ppm as boric acid). Results indicated that the reduction in growth and yield was found proportional with increasing salinity of irrigation water at all studied parameters but application of calcium and boron minimized the deleterious effects of salinity up to various extents. The significant improvement was observed in the shoot and root weight, chlorophyll content of leaves, due to the application of 200ppm calcium combined with foliar application of 5ppm boron under both non saline and saline conditions of irrigation water. Also, Pod and seed yield was increased as affected by Ca and B application under both saline and none saline irrigation water. In general, K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ ratios of faba bean shoot was lower under saline irrigation water condition as compare to none saline water. Foliar spray of Boron at 5ppm was found much effective to minimize K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ ratios and alleviating salinity hazard. Excess of Boron caused deleterious effects on plant growth indicating Boron toxicity at 10ppm B applied as foliar application.