Pollination by honeybee increases yield and quality of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in semi-arid regions of Egypt

Pollinators, particularly honeybees (Apis mellifera L.), play a pivotal role in enhancing the yield and quality of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) crops, especially in semi-arid regions. This study investigates the effects of pollination on faba bean production in Upper Egypt, emphasizing the interplay between environmental factors and bee foraging activity. Using a nested complete block design with three replicates and 16 individuals per replicate, we compared open-pollinated plants (OPP) with non-pollinated plants (NPP)as controlled conditions covered with suitable fine mesh net. Our results demonstrate that OPP exhibited a 97.9% increase in pod formation, and an 86.7% higher percentage of flowers developing into pods compared to NPP. Seed weight increased by 35.4%, and seed length by 27.8%, in OPP. Average temperature and outgoing foragers were negatively correlated, suggesting bees reduce foraging activity under high heat. These findings highlight the vital role of pollinators in sustainable agricultural practices, greatly improving both output yield and seed quality significantly in the evaluated semi-arid region. This study not only highlights the economic and ecological advantages and benefits of pollinators but also advocates for immediate conservation initiatives to preserve these vital ecosystem services amidst growing environmental challenges. We highly recommend putting managed honey bee colonies in agriculture area to get and optimize and enhance faba bean production. Additionally, future research should focus on understanding the broader ecological interactions and long-term impacts of climate change on pollinator health and crop productivity. Further studies across diverse climatic zones are needed to evaluate the external validity of these findings across regions.