Assessing the Effect of Biochar or Compost Application as a Spot Placement on Broomrape Control in Two Cultivars of Faba Bean

Abstract

The presence of soil seed bank of broomrape weed (Orobanche crenata Forsk.) causes a severe biotic stress towards faba bean (Vicia faba L.) preventing its sustainable cultivation. Thus, the current work aimed to estimate the relative efficiency of biochar and compost as untraditional means of broomrape weed control at farm level. The current study aims to investigate the use of biochar or compost as a spot placement compared to glyphosate-isopropylammonium herbicide and unweeded treatment for combating broomrape weed in two faba bean cultivars (Misr–3 and Sakha–1). The experimental design was a strip-plot based on completely randomized block arrangement with six replications. Significant reduction in number and weight of broomrape shoots plot⁻¹ and number of infected faba bean plants plot⁻¹ was noticed with Misr–3 plants treated by glyphosate-isopropylammonium, compost, or biochar. Planting of Misr–3 cultivar with application of biochar or glyphosate-isopropylammonium as well as Sakha–1 with application of glyphosate-isopropylammonium were the remarkable combinations for increasing faba bean seed yield ha⁻¹. Regression relationships proved that broomrape shoots weight plot⁻¹ was the most negatively correlated parameter with faba bean seed yield, since its R² (72.9%) value was higher than that of broomrape shoots number plot⁻¹ (58.5%) and number of broomrape-infected plants plot⁻¹ (44.7%). Planting Misr–3 cultivar plus treating soil by biochar or compost (spot placement) represents a promising practice for sustaining faba bean productivity in broomrape-infested lands.