Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 3(9): 867-872, 2007

2007, INSInet Publication

Effect of Cobalt Fertilizer on Growth,

Yield and Nutrients Status of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Plants.
Hala, Kandil
Plant Nutr. Dept. National Research Centre, Egypt.
Abstract: Two field experiment were carried out to study the effect of cobalt on growth, yield, nodules
formation and nutrients content of faba bean grown in El-Nobaria farm using four levels of cobalt 0, 5,
10, 15 and 20 ppm. Dry weights of roots, shoots, stem, pod, grain and nodules formation significantly
increased by increase percentage cobalt levels in all treatments compared with control. The highest
increases were obtained by using 20 ppm cobalt. The increasing % in grain yield by using 5, 10, 15 and
20 ppm cobalt were73.68, 130.68, 204.66 and 217.74 % respectively. Supplying the faba bean with
20 ppm cobalt increased the total protein by 47.82 % and 44.54 % in the first and the second
seasons as compared with control. T he content of macro (N, P and K) and micro (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu)
nutrients in faba bean plants increased application cobalt, except iron which was decreased.
Key words: Faba bean, cobalt, nutrients and nodules formation.
The aim of the present experiment is to evaluate
the effect of cobalt levels on growth, yield and
nutrients status of faba bean plants.

INTRODUCTION
Faba bean (vicia faba L.) is one of the principal
winter food legume crop in Egypt as source of
vegetable protein. It serves as an important source of
protein in the human diet, especially for those with low
income. In addition, faba bean plants improve the
fertility of the soil via providing a substantial input of
N 2 through fixation.
Cobalt is important in the plant world. Bacteria on
root nodules of legumes (beans, alfalfa and clover)
require cobalt (and other trace elements) to synthesize
B 1 2 and fix nitrogen from air. Soybeans grown without
cobalt are severely retorted in growth and exhibit
severe nitrogen deficiency, leading to death in about
one of four plants. Adding only a few ounces of cobalt
per acre can resolve deficiency symptoms in ten to 21
days.
Cobalt is an essential element for the synthesis of
vitamin B12, which is required for human and animal
nutrition [1 , 2 ]. Unlike other heavy metals, cobalt is safe
for human consumption and up to 8 mg can be
consumed on a daily basis without health hazard [1 ]. In
higher plants cobalt is an essential element for legumes
because of its use by microorganisms in fixing
atmospheric nitrogen Evans and Kliwer [3 ] and Young [1 ].
In plants other than legumes. Cobalt also promotes
many developmental processes including stem and
coleoptiles elongation, opening of hypocotyls hooks,
leaf disc expansion and feet development [4 ].
Cobalt is also required in low levels for
maintaining high yields of cucumber Scott and
W illiam [5 ] and for increasing the growth of wheat
W ilson and Nicholas [6 ] , tomato El- Kobbia and Osman
[7 ]
and Nadia Gad [8 ] squash plants Atta Aly [9 ], parsley
Laila and Nadia Gad [1 0 ] and groundnut [1 1 , 1 2].

M ATERIALS AND M ETHODS

Two field experiments were carried out at the
experimental
farm
of
National
Research
Centre
at El- Nobaria during the two successive
seasons 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 to study the effect
of cobalt levels on growth, yield and nutrients status of
faba bean plants. Physical and chemical properties of
the used soil are given in Table (1).
The experimental
unit
consist
of
five
ridges, 3.5 meter in length and 60 cm width (10.5 m2
= 1/400 fed.). Calcium super phosphate (15.5%) was
applied during seed- bed preparation at the rate of 31
kg P 2 O 5 / fed. Nitrogen was applied at the level 120 kg
N /fed. as urea (46%N) at the beginning of growth,
while potassium was added as potassium sulfate (48 %
K 2 O) at rate of 50 kg K 2 O/ fed. During growth, cobalt
sulfate was used as a source of cobalt at the rate of 0,
5, 10, 15 and 20 ppm cobalt. Seeds of faba bean
(Giza-3) were inoculated prior to sowing with the
specific strain of rhizobium leguminosarum and were
sown at the rate of 75 kg/ fed., on October in the two
seasons.
The treatments were arranged in a complete
randomized block design with three replications.
Normal practices were followed as usual in faba bean
fields. Plants were thinned to two plants per hill after
three weeks from sowing. At maturity, ten guarded
plants were hand pulled randomly from each plot to
determine, plant height,
number
of
branches,
pods/plant,
number of

Corresponding Author: Hala, Kandil, Plant Nutr. Dept. National Research Centre, Egypt.
867

J. Appl. Sci. Res., 3(9): 867-872, 2007

Table 1: Som e physical and chem ical properties of El-N obaria soil.
Particle size distribution
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sand (% )
Silt (% )
Clay (% )
Soil Texture
Field cap acity (% )
69.8
26.7
3.5
Sandy loam
21.2
Chem ical properties
Cobalt (ppm )
-------------------------------------------------------------------EC dsm G 1
pH (1:2.5)
CaCO 3 (% )
O .M (% )
Soluble
Available
Total
0.13
7.8
3.21
0.02
0.34
1.67
7.66
Soluble cations (m eq LG 1 )
Soluble anions (m eq L -1 )
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ca + +
M g++
K+
Na +
CO 3 G
HCO 3 G
ClG
SO 4 G
2.0
1.10
0.24
1.09
1.6
0.8
1.93
Available (m g/100g)
Available m icronutrients (ppm )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total N (m g/100g)
P
K
Fe
Mn
Zn
Cu
16.5
13.4
11.0
7.77
2.12
1.78
3.01

development as reported by Ibrahim et al. [4 ]. Also, the

proper doses of cobalt may help in better nodulation
and consequently a better growth and yield, but at high
level cobalt reduced the bacterial population in the
rhizosphere and as a result nodulation was hampered
which led to a lower growth and yield of crop [1 1 ]. In
other words, cobalt addition increased the nodules
formation of root and atmospheric nitrogen fixation
by microorganisms which increase the nitrogen
content in faba bean plants. This was confirmed by
Abdel-Moez and Nadia Gad [1 8 ]. Moreover, cobalt
application increases the formation of loghaemoglobin
required for nitrogen fixation, thereby improves the
nodules activity [1 9 ]. Das [2 0 ] stated that there are three
specific cobalamine dependent enzyme systems in
rhizobium which may account for influence of cobalt
o n nod ula tio n r ib o n u c le o tid e r e d u c ta s e and
methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase.
In general, the obtained results in this work are in
good agreement with those found by many investigators
through their work on numerous plant species and
varieties, as reported by Scott and W illiam [5 ] on
cucumber, Sowicki [2 1 ] on fodder hay, Laila and
Nadia Gad [1 0 ] on parsley, Abdel-Moez and Nadia Gad
[1 8 ]
on cowpea and Basu et al. [1 2 ] on groundnut,
who stated that growth, fresh and dry materials, yield
components as well as nodules formation of roots
of the previous crops, were significantly affected by
cobalt application.
Data
presented
in Table
(2) show that
application of
cobalt
particularly
20
ppm,
significantly increased not only the growth and yield
parameters but also balanced this increases with larger
root size. In this concern, Shehata [2 2 ] stated that
cobalt application affected
adventitious
root
formation and growth inducing or inhibiting ethylene
production (which is an essential hormone for the
formation and growth of adventitious root) based on its
concentration in the growing media.

seeds/plant, number of nodules/plant and dry weight of

shoots and roots/plants. Seed and straw yields/fed were
also recorded.
All the soil and plant analysis were determined
using the standard method described by Jackson [1 3 ],
Lindsay and Norvell [1 4 ] and Cottenie et al. [1 5 ]. Total
protein content of faba bean seed was calculated.
All data were subjected to statistical analysis
according to procedure outlined by Snedecor and
Cochran [1 6 ].
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The available cobalt levels in most of Egyptian
soils did not excess than 40 ppm [1 7 ]. The used soil in
this work from El- Nobaria region contained total
cobalt of 7.66 ppm (Table, 1). The recommended
cobalt level to be used in the selected soil range
between 5 and 20 ppm cobalt as reported by Laila and
Nadia Gad [1 0 ].
Data presented in Table (2) reveal that all
the used levels of cobalt (5, 10, 15 and 20 ppm)
significantly increased the growth and yield
parameters as well as number of nodules per plant
as compared with control treatment. These results are
true for the two growing seasons, except, plant high
and No. of branches/plant in the first season which did
not reach the level of significance at 5 % when 5 ppm
cobalt was applied.
The highest levels of growth and yield parameters
of faba bean plants i.e plant height, No. of
branches/plant, No. of nodules/plant, No. of pods/plant,
No. of seed/plant, seed yield/fed. and dry weights of
shoots and roots were obtained when 20 ppm cobalt
was used followed by 15, 10 and 5 ppm in decreasing
order.
The positive effect of may be due to cobalt
application promotion of many developmental processes
such as stem and coleoptiles elongation, opening
of hypostyle hooks, leaf disc expansion and bud
868

J. Appl. Sci. Res., 3(9): 867-872, 2007

Table 2: Effect of cobalt fertilization on growth and yield param eters of faba bean plants grown for two seasons.
D ry w eight (gm )/ plants
Length of
N o. of
N o. of
N o. of
----------------------------------------N o. of
Seed yield
Treatm ents
plant (cm )
stem
nodules
pod/ plant
shoots
roots
Total
seed/ plant
/ fed. (kg)
First season
Control
49.5
1.33
107
6
10.25
4.7
14.95
18
299.25
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ppm cobalt
51
1.66
126
10
14.5
5.55
20.05
31
519.75
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 ppm cobalt
56.2
2.33
138
14
18.97
6.25
25.22
40
698.85
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 ppm cobalt
64.7
3.33
154
18
25.3
7.55
32.85
62
911.7
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20 ppm cobalt
65.1
3.66
195
22
26.25
8.01
34.26
66
950.85
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LSD
2.84
0.51
8
3
0.82
0.55
1.46
4.5
16.22
Second season
Control
49.1
1.33
102
7
10.12
4.5
14.62
19
336.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ppm cobalt
51.4
2
134
11
14.81
5.85
20.67
32
542.7
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 ppm cobalt
55.9
2.66
145
13
19.72
6.48
26.2
41
702.9
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 ppm cobalt
65.2
3.66
162
19
26.15
7.95
34.74
64
960.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20 ppm cobalt
66.1
4
203
21
27.24
8.5
35.74
67
990.45
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LSD
1.89
0.62
9
2
0.75
0.51
1.38
4
17.02
Table 3: Effect of cobalt fertilization on m acronutrients content in shoots and roots of faba bean plants grown for two seasons.
Shoots (% )
Roots (% )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Treatm ents
N
P
K
N
P
K
First season
Control
0.81
0.11
0.68
0.34
0.04
0.08
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ppm cobalt
1.86
0.13
0.85
0.62
0.07
0.12
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 ppm cobalt
2.25
0.16
0.97
0.85
0.11
0.15
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 ppm cobalt
3.41
0.18
1.32
1.69
0.15
0.22
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20 ppm cobalt
4.96
0.21
1.46
2.42
0.18
0.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LSD
0.11
0.04
0.07
0.21
0.03
0.01
Second season
Control
0.82
0.12
0.69
0.35
0.05
0.09
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ppm cobalt
1.91
0.15
0.88
0.67
0.13
0.14
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 ppm cobalt
2.3
0.17
1.13
0.91
0.15
0.18
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 ppm cobalt
3.86
0.2
1.86
1.72
0.19
0.23
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20 ppm cobalt
5.07
0.24
1.93
2.64
0.22
0.31
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LSD
0.12
0.05
0.06
0.3
0.08
0.04

20 ppm cobalt followed by 15, 10 and 5 ppm in

decreasing order. However, the content of P in shoots
and roots in both seasons did not show any significant
difference when the level of 5 ppm cobalt was
compared with control treatment. The results of the two
seasons showed the same trend. These results are
in good agreement with those found by Jana et al.[1 1 ],
Castro et al. [2 3 ], Abdel-Moez and Nadia Gad [1 8 ]

Effect of Cobalt on Nutrient Status:

M acronutrients: Data presented in Table (3) show
that, addition of different levels of cobalt namely 5, 10,
15 an 20 ppm had a significant beneficial effect on the
status of studied macro- elements (nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium) in both shoots and roots of faba bean
plants, the highest content values of N, P and K in
shoots and roots were obtained at the treatment of

869

J. Appl. Sci. Res., 3(9): 867-872, 2007

Table 4: Effect of cobalt fertilization on m icronutrient content in shoots and roots of faba bean plants grown for two seasons.
Shoots (% )
Roots (% )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Treatm ents
Co
Fe
Mn
Zn
Cu
Co
Fe
Mn
Zn
Cu
First season
Control
0.87
40.6
19.9
15.5
28
1.11
48.5
58
25.5
43
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ppm cobalt
1.17
68.4
24
18.1
32.1
2.31
127
64.2
36.6
51.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 ppm cobalt
1.53
62.1
27.3
20.9
37.5
5.56
114
68.5
39
56.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 ppm cobalt
2.39
55.2
32.5
23.6
40.2
8.91
110
73.7
41.3
58.8
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20 ppm cobalt
4.5
48
36.4
26.7
43.6
11
89.2
76.5
45..5
61.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LSD
0.17
0.98
1.22
1.9
1.3
0.88
4
2.43
1.98
1.97
Second season
Control
0.89
41.2
20.5
16.2
30.2
1.13
50.2
54.8
27.2
45.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ppm cobalt
1.22
77.3
25.2
20.3
33
2.35
130
60.1
38
53
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 ppm cobalt
1.67
68.7
29
22.9
37.5
5.58
121
65.5
41.6
57.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 ppm cobalt
2.56
63
33.6
25
41.4
8.96
112
69.7
44.2
61.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20 ppm cobalt
4.86
56.3
37.8
29.1
45.3
11.5
103
75
48.3
66
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LSD
0.11
2.12
2.2
1.5
1.8
0.42
4.6
2.3
2.3
1.6

and Basu et al. [1 2 ] who stated that cobalt levels had a

promotion effect for better status of N, P and K in
groundnut, tomato and cowpea plants. Generally, data
show that the content of shoots from N, P and k values
were higher than those obtained by roots of faba bean
plants.

confirmed by Hussein [2 7 ], Atta Aly et al. [2 6 ] and

Abdel-Moez and Nadia Gad [1 8 ] who stated that Co
content in tomato plants increased by increasing cobalt
additions.
Data presented in Table (4) show that the content
of all the studied micronutrient in roots of faba bean
were higher than those obtained in shoots under all the
cobalt treatments.

M icronutrients: The effect of cobalt levels on the

content of micronutrients (Co, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) in
shoot and roots of faba bean plants are shown
in Table (4). Increasing cobalt levels from 5 to 20 ppm
significantly increased the content of all the studed
except Fe micronutrients. The highest values of
Co, Mn, Zn and Cu in shoots and roots were
found when the cobalt treatment of 20 ppm was
used, then followed by 15, 10, 5 ppm in decreasing
order. On the other hand, such treatments of cobalt
resulted in progressive depression effect on iron content
in the shoots and roots of faba bean plants (Table, 4).
The highest contents of Fe were found under the cobalt
level of 5 ppm followed by 10, 15 and 20 ppm in
decreasing order. The obtained results of iron are
in accordance with those found by Bisht [2 4 ] and
Blaylock et al. [2 5 ], who showed certain antagonistic
relationship between Co and Fe. Also, Atta Aly et al.
[2 6 ]
found that cobalt and iron were competitive
elements in the nutrition of tomato plants. Moreover,
data show that cobalt contents in shoots and rots of
faba bean were significantly increased by increasing
cobalt levels from 5 upto 20 ppm. These results were

Grain Nutrients Content: Table (5) show the data

concerning the effect of cobalt addition on macro and
micronutrients as well as protein content in grains of
faba bean plants grown for two seasons. It is clear
from these data, that all cobalt levels (5, 10, 15 and 20
ppm) significantly increased the content of macro and
micronutrients (except Fe content) as well as protein
percentage in the grains of faba bean as compared with
control treatments. These results are true during the
two seasons. The highest values of all the studied
nutrients were found when cobalt treatment of 20 ppm
was used and followed by 15, 10 and 5 ppm in
decreasing order. Only, the content of N and P did not
affect with cobalt treatment of 5 pm when compared
with control in the two seasons. Concerning iron
content in faba bean grains, it took a contrary trend,
where their values were significantly decreased by
increased cobalt levels from 5 ppm up to 20 ppm. All
these data took the same trend of the content of macro
and micronutrients in straw and roots of faba bean
during the two seasons (Table 3 & 4). Data also
reveal that supplying the faba bean with 20 ppm
870

J. Appl. Sci. Res., 3(9): 867-872, 2007

Table 5: Effect of cobalt fertilization on m acro and m icronutrient as well as protein % in grain of faba bean plants grown for two seasons.
M acronutrients (% )
M icronutrients (% )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Treatm ents
N
P
K
Co
Fe
Mn
Zn
Cu
Protein%
First season
Control
1.8
0.06
0.56
0.05
41.2
20.6
8.5
26
11.25
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ppm cobalt
1.86
0.09
0.69
0.65
43.1
24
11.2
29.3
11.63
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 ppm cobalt
1.99
0.15
0.75
1.54
36
27.3
14.5
33.6
12.44
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 ppm cobalt
2.32
0.18
0.83
1.83
31.5
31
17
37.4
14.5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20 ppm cobalt
2.66
0.22
0.88
1.9
26.1
34.5
19.3
41.5
16.63
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LSD
0.1
0.06
0.09
1.56
3.52
0.86
1.25
1.63
Second season
Control
1.86
0.08
0.61
0.07
44
25.5
9.98
29.3
11.63
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ppm cobalt
1.9
0.12
0.67
0.66
46.2
27.2
12
32.1
11.88
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 ppm cobalt
2.2
0.19
0.73
1.46
40.4
31
15.6
36.4
13.75
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 ppm cobalt
2.43
0.22
0.77
1.72
34.5
35.1
19.2
40.6
15.19
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20 ppm cobalt
2.69
0.25
0.84
1.8
30.3
37
22.3
45
16.81
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LSD
0.11
0.08
0.08
1.68
3.79
0.97
1.34
1.72
-

cobalt increased the total protein, 47.82 and 44.54 %

in the first and the second seasons as compared with
control respectively.
From the obtained results it could be concluded
that in higher plants, cobalt may be an essential
element, the appropriate supply might be necessary to
maintain a high yield production [2 8 ].
Addition proper levels of cobalt to the nutrient
media caused a significant increases in the dry weight
yields of non- nodulated clover Hallsworth et al. [2 9 ],
legumes and wheat plants [5 ].
Application of CaSO 4 to the soil increased Lupinus
engustifolia dry matter yield by 50 % [3 0 ].
In conclusion, it is suggested that addition of 20
ppm cobalt fertilization, improved all the growth and
yield parameters as well as macro and micronutrients
content of faba bean plants without human health
hazard.

4.

Ibrahim, A., S.O. El-Abd and A.S. El-Beltagy,

1989. A possible role of cobalt in salt tolerance of
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5. Scott, G . and K.P. W illiam, 1976. Cobalt and plant
development. Plant Physiology. 57: 886-889.
6. W ilson, S.B. and D.J.D. Nicholas, 1967. A cobalt
requirement for nodulated legumes and for wheat.
Phytochemistry, 6: 1057-1060.
7. El-Kobbia, T. and A. Osman, 1987. Salinity and
cobalt interaction in tomato plants. Soil Sci. Rural
Sociology, 47: 103-111.
8. Nadia Gad, Sh., 1997. Studies on cobalt behaviour
in soil and plant Ph. D. Thesis, Fac. Agric, Ain
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9. Atta- Aly, M.A., 1998. Soaking summer squash
seeds in low concentrations of cobalt solution
before sowing increased plant growth, femaleness
and fruit yield via increasing plant ethylene level.
J. Plant Growth Regul., 17: 25-32.
10. Laila,
M.H.
and
Sh.
Nadia
Gad,
2002. Effect of cobalt fertilization on the yield,
quality and the essential oil composition of parsley
leaves. Arab Univ. J. Agric. Sci., Ain Shams
Univ., Cairo, 10: 803-829.
11. Jana, P.K., S. Karmakar, S. Ghatak, A. Barik,
A. Naybri, G. Souda,
A.K.
Mukher and
B.K.
Saren,
1994.
Effect
of cobalt and
rhizobium on yield, oil content and nutrient
concentration in irrigated summe groundnut.
Ind. J. Agric. Sci., 64: 630-632.

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