Effect of Humic Acid Application on Morphological Traits, Yield Components, and Seed Yield of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) Cultivars

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sajjad Rahimi

Khosro Azizi

Sajjad Rahimi-Moghadam

Department of Plant Production and Genetics Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

10.22067/ijpr.2026.99333.1138

Abstract

Introduction
Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is a valuable legume crop whose seeds contain approximately 22-25% protein, 51% carbohydrates, 10% moisture, 4% minerals (including magnesium, potassium, manganese, copper, and zinc), 3% vitamins (particularly B-complex vitamins) as well as dietary fiber and antioxidants. As a member of the Fabaceae (legume) family, mung bean serves as an important source of plant-based protein in the human diet. It is also one of the legume crops well adapted to the climatic conditions of Iran. Humic acid is recognized as an environmentally friendly organic fertilizer enhancing plant growth and improving soil fertility. Evaluating the quantitative and morphological traits of local mung bean populations facilitates the identification of genetically diverse cultivars with superior agronomic performance, thereby supporting crop improvement and sustainable agricultural production. Therefore, the current research was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar application of different concentrations of humic acid on the quantitative and morphological characteristics of mung bean cultivars.

Materials and Methods
The experiment was carried out at the research farm of Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran, using a factorial arrangement based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The experimental factors consisted of three mung bean cultivars: Arteshi (primary landrace; C₁), Malek (secondary landrace; C₂), and Omrani (breeding cultivar; C₃), as well as three levels of humic acid: 0 mg.L⁻¹ (control, distilled water only; F₁), 50 mg.L⁻¹; F₂), and 100 mg.L⁻¹; F₃). Sowing was carried out during the summer growing season on July 11. All crop management practices, including weeding and other field operations, were performed manually. Humic acid treatments were applied as foliar sprays at two growth stages: branching and flowering. Leaf nitrogen content was determined using the Kjeldahl method. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS software (version 9.4), and treatment means were compared using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at the 5% probability level. Furthermore, the relationships among the traits were evaluated using simple Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and path analysis based on the correlation coefficients was performed to determine the direct and indirect effects of the traits associated with seed yield.

Results and Discussion
The analysis of variance indicated that cultivar had a significant effect (P < 0.01) on most of the evaluated traits, including the number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 1000-seed weight, pod length, plant height, height of the first branch above the soil surface, and biological yield. Furthermore, the interaction between cultivar and humic acid treatment was significant (p < 0.01) for some of the studied traits such as pod dry weight, biological yield, seed yield, and harvest index. The highest biological yield (3.2 t.ha⁻¹) was recorded in the Malek cultivar (secondary landrace) treated with 50 mg.L⁻¹ humic acid. In contrast, the highest seed yield (2.4 t.ha⁻¹) was obtained from the Omrani cultivar (breeding cultivar) treated with 100 mg.L⁻¹ humic acid. Analysis of the main effects also indicated that the Omrani cultivar outperformed the other cultivars in terms of yield components. In addition, foliar application of 100 mg.L⁻¹ humic acid increased leaf nitrogen content, 1000-seed weight, and the number of branches per plant. Overall, humic acid application exerted different effects on the evaluated mung bean cultivars, particularly with respect to the number of branches per plant, 1000-seed weight, and other traits probably through improving soil structure and its chelating properties, thereby enhancing nitrogen and phosphorus uptake.

Conclusions
The results demonstrated that genetic differences among mung bean cultivars significantly influenced growth, yield, and most of the measured traits. The response to humic acid was also cultivar-dependent, with significant improvements observed in several quantitative traits. Among the evaluated cultivars, the breeding cultivar (Omrani) showed superior performance in seed yield, 1000-seed weight, and plant height. Overall, the combined use of an appropriate cultivar and the optimum humic acid concentration enhanced plant growth and productivity. Therefore, foliar application of 100 mg.L⁻¹ humic acid is recommended for the Omrani cultivar to maximize yield, whereas 50 mg.L⁻¹ is more suitable for the local landraces.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Lorestan University for its financial support and provision of laboratory facilities for conducting this research as part of the requirements for the completion of the Master’s thesis.

Keywords

Landrace

Leaf nitrogen percentage

Organic fertilizers

Plant nutrition

Subjects

• Agronomy

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Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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