Effect of Superabsorbent Polymer on the Yield and Growth Factors of Vicia Faba L. under Water Deficit Stress Conditions

Deficit irrigation is an optimum technique for producing products under drought stress conditions. The superabsorbent hydrogel is a hydrophilic polymer with cross-linked 3-D hydrophilic nets that can take up and keep noteworthy values of water and aquatic liquids. This study aimed to investigate the superabsorbent effect on the yield and some of the growth factors of Vicia faba L. under the drought stress conditions.The experimental factors included: Irrigation treatments at two levels of 100% and 70% water requirement by the plant. The second factor included the levels of superabsorbent application which included three levels of control treatment, potting soil with a weight percentage of 1, and 2. The third factor was the location of the superabsorbent application.The results showed that plant height, leaf relative water content, leaf proline content, grain protein, number of branches, number of pods per plant,grainyield under different levels of drought stress, and superabsorbent polymer weresignificantly different at 1% level. Besides, S1M treatment (2% of pot soil weight and superabsorbent application along the root zone) with a mean of 4211.6 kg/ha achieved the maximumgrain yield and the control treatmentwith a mean of 3103.20 kg/ha had the minimumgrainyield.Using the superabsorbent could achieve acceptable yield by consuming less water amount. It is recommended to use the superabsorbent along the root zone in the pot.