The Effect of Weed Control at Different Periods on Antioxidant Content of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a significant member of the Fabaceae family, known for its high protein content and rich phenolic compounds essential for human nutrition. These phenolic compounds, which belong to the group of secondary metabolites, serve as important dietary components. Secondary metabolites, act as plant defence mechanisms and can fluctuate under stress conditions. Weeds negatively impact the growth of cultivated plants by competing for nutrients and creating a stressful environment. This study evaluated the effects of weeds on the yield and quality parameters of faba bean. Conducted in Sakarya, the research aimed to determine how weed control frequency affects the yield and some secondary metabolites of faba bean. The experiment used a randomized block design with four replications and included four faba bean genotypes: two registered varieties (Eresen-87 and Salkım) and two local populations (Bilecik and Sakarya). Weed control treatments; comprised weedy control, hoeing every 15 days, and hoeing every 30 days. Measured parameters included plant height (cm), number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight (g), dry seed yield (g), and DPPH radical scavenging activity (%). Data were analyzed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test with SPSS, revealing statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in all measured parameters. The tallest plants were found in the Salkım×Control plot, while the shortest were in Sakarya×15. The highest number of pods occurred in Sakarya×30, and the lowest in Eresen-87×15. The highest number of seeds per pod was recorded in Bilecik×15, while the lowest was in all treatments of the Salkım variety and the Eresen-87×15 plot. The highest dry seed yield came from Bilecik×15, with the lowest from Eresen-87×30. DPPH activity peaked in Bilecik×Control, indicating significant differences in yield and nutritional content among faba bean genotypes. These findings indicate that different genotypes excel in various agricultural and nutritional characteristics, demonstrating that these differences can play an important role in shaping future production strategies.