EFFECT OF SOIL AND FOLIAR PHOSPHATE FERTILIZATION ON BROAD BEAN YIELD IN A MEDITERRANEAN AGROECOSYSTEM

Broad beans (Vicia faba) are essential legumes for human and animal nutrition, but their productivity is often hampered by inadequate agronomic practices, particularly fertilizer choice and application methods.This study compared three methods of applying phosphate fertilizers to broad beans grown in the Mitidja plain in Algeria: (1) background fertilization with triple superphosphate (TSP 46%), (2) foliar fertilization with an Agriphos-type fertilizer and (3) a combined approach integrating both methods.Biometric measurements carried out at flowering and pod maturity stages showed that the combined approach offered the best theoretical fresh grain yield, with lower seed phosphorus content, while foliar fertilization significantly increased seed phosphorus concentrations.These results provide essential data for optimizing bean cultivation, but further multi-season studies are needed to validate these practices and establish recommendations applicable to real world conditions.