An environmentally friendly method to support Broad Bean Plant in Reducing Salinity Affecting Root Nodule Growth and Nitrogenase Enzyme Activators

Abstract

Salinity can impair root nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation in faba bean (Vicia faba L.), potentially limiting plant development. This study investigated the potential of magnetically treated water and water stored in clay pots to mitigate the effects of irrigation water salinity on root nodulation, nitrogen content, and nitrogenase activity in faba bean plants. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with five irrigation treatments: distilled water (control), saline water (7 dS m⁻¹), water stored in clay pots for 24 h, magnetically treated water (135 mT), and water subjected to both clay pot storage and magnetic treatment. Magnetic treatment was applied three times for one minute each. Root nodulation, nitrogen content, and nitrogenase activity were evaluated to determine plant responses to the different irrigation treatments. The combined clay pot and magnetic water treatment was associated with higher nitrogen content (25.44 mg plant⁻¹) than saline irrigation (8.65 mg plant⁻¹). Similarly, nitrogenase activity reached 36.87 µg under the combined treatment, compared with 8.77 µg under saline irrigation. The reported findings also indicated favorable responses in root nodule development following water treatments. Overall, the combined treatment showed potential to improve nitrogen-related physiological responses in faba bean plants compared with saline irrigation, although further methodological clarification is needed to establish its effectiveness in mitigating salinity stress.