Volume 16, Issue 2 (7-2026)
2026, 16(2): 57-73 |
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Zamani Galeh M, Koochekzadeh A, Siadat S A, Khodaei joghan A, Abdali Mashhadi A. The Effect of Spent Mushroom Compost and Seaweed Extract on Growth, Yield, and Phosphorus and Iron Nutrient Content of Faba (Vicia faba L.). Journal of Crop Production and Processing 2026; 16 (2) :57-73
URL: http://jcpp.iut.ac.ir/article-1-3405-en.html
URL: http://jcpp.iut.ac.ir/article-1-3405-en.html
Marzieh Zamani Galeh 
, Ahmad Koochekzadeh * , Seyyed Ataollah Siadat , Aydin Khodaei joghan , Alireza Abdali Mashhadi
, Ahmad Koochekzadeh * , Seyyed Ataollah Siadat , Aydin Khodaei joghan , Alireza Abdali Mashhadi
Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran. , koochekzadeh@asnrukh.ac.ir
Abstract: (13 Views)
Extended Abstract:
Introduction: Today, the use of chemical fertilizers is an easy way to provide nutrients to the soil, which has caused numerous environmental problems and a decline in the quality of agricultural products. Sustainable agriculture by reducing the use of these fertilizers is a suitable solution to these problems. In recent years, seaweed extract and mushroom compost have been used as organic fertilizers in organic and sustainable agriculture. It has been reported that the use of mushroom compost increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH, and soil electrical conductivity; and also reduced bulk density. As a result, soil structure and permeability improved, and soil microbial activity increased. Using mushroom compost increases the concentration of essential nutrients in the soil and plants. The use of mushroom compost significantly increases plant height, leaf area, and weight. After using mushroom compost, the absorption of nutrients in the plant increased, which is due to a decrease in bulk density, improved soil aggregates, water holding capacity and soil conditioning. The effect of compost in high water holding capacity in soils can be attributed to the increase in soil organic matter content and the enhanced presence of microorganisms in the soil, which create suitable pores in the soil. Seaweed extract contains growth regulators such as gibberellins, cytokinin, abscisic acid, indole acetic acid, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, as well as large amounts of sulfates, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, macro and micro elements. The application of seaweed resulted in a significant increase in germination, root and stem growth, increased chlorophyll and carotenoids, number of lateral branches, leaf dry weight, leaf area, relative leaf water content, plant fresh and dry weight, grain yield and protein. After cereals, legumes are the most important source of human protein, and beans are important because they contain protein, phosphorus, calcium, and iron. This study aimed to study the effect of mushroom compost and seaweed extract on the growth, grain yield and quality of faba bean.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted during the 2019–2020 growing season as a factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors and three replications at the Research Farm of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Iran. The experimental factors included: mushroom compost (main factor) at four levels (control (0), 10, 20 and 30 tons ha⁻¹) and different methods of applying seaweed extract at three levels (with irrigation water, foliar spraying, and with irrigation water plus foliar spraying). The mentioned high amounts of organic matter were deliberately used in the treatments as our measurements indicated low amounts of this material in the soil of the experimental site. The evaluated traits were plant height, number of branches, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod dry weight, leaf area index, chlorophyll index, leaf and seed phosphorus, grain iron, thousand-grain weight, plant above-ground dry mass, harvest index, grain yield and protein.
Results and Discussion: The results demonstrated that the highest height (138 cm), number of pods per plant (17.2), pod length (20.1 cm), pod dry weight (2.72 g), leaf area index (7.19) and chlorophyll index (44.4) were achieved with the combined application of 30 tons ha⁻¹ mushroom compost and applying seaweed extract with irrigation water plus foliar
spraying. Also, the above treatments could significantly increase the amount of leaf and seed phosphorus (0.56 and 0.33% respectively), grain iron (90.97 mg kg-1), thousand-grain weight (1571 g), grain yield (317.7 g m-2) and grain protein (18.4 %) which were higher than another treatment. In this experiment, after absorbing the growth regulators and nutrients contained in seaweed extract and mushroom compost, pods/plant and thousand-grain weight, and consequently the grain yield, increased. The positive effect of using organic fertilizers such as mushroom compost on improving the physical, chemical, and microbial properties of the soil, including the formation of soil aggregates, reducing soil bulk density, increasing soil organic carbon, field capacity for water, water holding capacity, the presence of organic acids, hormones, and abundant nutrients such as nitrate, iron, and zinc, led to improved plant growth indices. Also, plant growth regulators such as gibberellin, abscisic acid, cytokinin, and salicylic acid in seaweed extract increased leaf area, chlorophyll index and photosynthetic material production, and consequently thousand-grain weight and grain yield and protein.
Conclusions: Application of seaweed extract and mushroom compost significantly increased yield and yield components in faba bean, due perhaps to enhancing nutrients availability to the roots of plants. Among the treatments, 30 tons ha⁻¹ of mushroom compost and combined application of seaweed as foliar spray and with irrigation water is recommended as a sustainable fertilization strategy. Spent mushroom compost and seaweed extract, due to the presence of growth regulators, allow their use in large quantities as environmentally friendly organic biofertilizers that act as growth stimulants in agricultural crops.
Introduction: Today, the use of chemical fertilizers is an easy way to provide nutrients to the soil, which has caused numerous environmental problems and a decline in the quality of agricultural products. Sustainable agriculture by reducing the use of these fertilizers is a suitable solution to these problems. In recent years, seaweed extract and mushroom compost have been used as organic fertilizers in organic and sustainable agriculture. It has been reported that the use of mushroom compost increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH, and soil electrical conductivity; and also reduced bulk density. As a result, soil structure and permeability improved, and soil microbial activity increased. Using mushroom compost increases the concentration of essential nutrients in the soil and plants. The use of mushroom compost significantly increases plant height, leaf area, and weight. After using mushroom compost, the absorption of nutrients in the plant increased, which is due to a decrease in bulk density, improved soil aggregates, water holding capacity and soil conditioning. The effect of compost in high water holding capacity in soils can be attributed to the increase in soil organic matter content and the enhanced presence of microorganisms in the soil, which create suitable pores in the soil. Seaweed extract contains growth regulators such as gibberellins, cytokinin, abscisic acid, indole acetic acid, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, as well as large amounts of sulfates, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, macro and micro elements. The application of seaweed resulted in a significant increase in germination, root and stem growth, increased chlorophyll and carotenoids, number of lateral branches, leaf dry weight, leaf area, relative leaf water content, plant fresh and dry weight, grain yield and protein. After cereals, legumes are the most important source of human protein, and beans are important because they contain protein, phosphorus, calcium, and iron. This study aimed to study the effect of mushroom compost and seaweed extract on the growth, grain yield and quality of faba bean.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted during the 2019–2020 growing season as a factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors and three replications at the Research Farm of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Iran. The experimental factors included: mushroom compost (main factor) at four levels (control (0), 10, 20 and 30 tons ha⁻¹) and different methods of applying seaweed extract at three levels (with irrigation water, foliar spraying, and with irrigation water plus foliar spraying). The mentioned high amounts of organic matter were deliberately used in the treatments as our measurements indicated low amounts of this material in the soil of the experimental site. The evaluated traits were plant height, number of branches, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod dry weight, leaf area index, chlorophyll index, leaf and seed phosphorus, grain iron, thousand-grain weight, plant above-ground dry mass, harvest index, grain yield and protein.
Results and Discussion: The results demonstrated that the highest height (138 cm), number of pods per plant (17.2), pod length (20.1 cm), pod dry weight (2.72 g), leaf area index (7.19) and chlorophyll index (44.4) were achieved with the combined application of 30 tons ha⁻¹ mushroom compost and applying seaweed extract with irrigation water plus foliar
spraying. Also, the above treatments could significantly increase the amount of leaf and seed phosphorus (0.56 and 0.33% respectively), grain iron (90.97 mg kg-1), thousand-grain weight (1571 g), grain yield (317.7 g m-2) and grain protein (18.4 %) which were higher than another treatment. In this experiment, after absorbing the growth regulators and nutrients contained in seaweed extract and mushroom compost, pods/plant and thousand-grain weight, and consequently the grain yield, increased. The positive effect of using organic fertilizers such as mushroom compost on improving the physical, chemical, and microbial properties of the soil, including the formation of soil aggregates, reducing soil bulk density, increasing soil organic carbon, field capacity for water, water holding capacity, the presence of organic acids, hormones, and abundant nutrients such as nitrate, iron, and zinc, led to improved plant growth indices. Also, plant growth regulators such as gibberellin, abscisic acid, cytokinin, and salicylic acid in seaweed extract increased leaf area, chlorophyll index and photosynthetic material production, and consequently thousand-grain weight and grain yield and protein.
Conclusions: Application of seaweed extract and mushroom compost significantly increased yield and yield components in faba bean, due perhaps to enhancing nutrients availability to the roots of plants. Among the treatments, 30 tons ha⁻¹ of mushroom compost and combined application of seaweed as foliar spray and with irrigation water is recommended as a sustainable fertilization strategy. Spent mushroom compost and seaweed extract, due to the presence of growth regulators, allow their use in large quantities as environmentally friendly organic biofertilizers that act as growth stimulants in agricultural crops.
Keywords: Organic fertilizer, Plant growth regulators, Soil fertility, Thousand- grain weight, Water holding capacity
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