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The effect of seed pre-treatment and foliar application of humic acid, green tea extract and coffee extract on quantitative and qualitative yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Document Type : Research Paper - Agronomy

Authors
Reza Sabaghian 1
Mehdi Baradaran Firouzabadi 1
Mostafa Heidari 2
Farzane Bahadori 3
Safiye Arab 2
1 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
2 Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
3 Research and Training Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources of Semnan Province, Semnan, Iran
10.22055/ppd.2025.48535.2243
Abstract
Introduction
Today, there are several solutions to increase the resistance of plants against harsh environmental conditions. Optimum and balanced plant nutrition using organic compounds is one of the ways to increase the resistance of plants against harsh conditions. One of these organic compounds is humic acid, which can play an important role in the growth and performance of plants and their resistance to abiotic stresses. Extracts of some plants in the form of seed pretreatment or foliar spraying are also capable of reducing the negative effects of abiotic stresses. Green tea extract and coffee extract can be mentioned among these substances. Green tea is a strong antioxidant with a large number of flavonoids. Another one of the best sources of natural antioxidants is coffee extract, which can be studied to reduce the effects of stress in plants.
Materials and Methods
In order to investigate humic acid, green tea extract and coffee extract on the quantitative and qualitative yield of cowpea, an experiment was designed and implemented in 2023 in a laboratory and private farm in Semnan. The experiment was conducted in a factorial format based on a randomized complete block design in three replications. The experimental treatments include seed pre-treatment at five levels (control (no pretreatment), distilled water, humic acid (750 mg. L-1), green tea extract (10% concentration) and coffee extract (10% concentration)) and foliar application at four levels (control (solution-spraying with distilled water), humic acid (750 mg. L-1), green tea extract (10% concentration) and coffee extract (10% concentration)). Seed pretreatment of seeds with desired concentrations was done for six hours, following the principles of seed aeration. Foliar application was done at the beginning of flowering.
Results and Discussion
 Seed pre-treatment with humic acid and coffee extract increased the number of seeds in the pod by 26.34 and 17.95%, respectively, compared to the control. Pretreatment with green tea extract and distilled water also increased the number of seeds in the pod by 16.72 and 16.88%, respectively. Seed pre-treatment with humic acid and green tea extract showed an increase of 18.83% and 10.33% of the weight of 100 seeds, respectively. Seed pre-treatment with coffee extract and distilled water increased the weight of 100 seeds by 8.62 and 8.05%. Seed pre-treatment of seeds with humic acid, green tea extract, coffee extract and distilled water increased the percentage of seed protein and the highest increase was related to seed pre-treatment with humic acid by 3.49% compared to the control. The results showed that seed pre-treatment and foliar application with humic acid, green tea extract and coffee extract decreased fructose and glucose and increased sucrose. Foliar application with humic acid could significantly increase the stem diameter by 12.5% ​​compared to the control. The lowest percentage of seed protein with an average of 23.60% was recorded in control plants.  Pretreatment with humic acid increased the grain yield by 51.78% compared to the control. Seed pre-treatment with green tea extract, distilled water and coffee extract increased this trait by 41.26, 11.13 and 11.21%, respectively, compared to the control. Applying all levels of foliar application increased grain yield in these conditions. The highest seed yield belonged to the plants that received humic acid as a foliar spray, which was 20.36% superior to the control. Foliar application with green tea extract and coffee extract was placed at the second statistical level. When the plants were sprayed with green tea extract, a 25.8% increase in seed yield was recorded compared to the control.
Conclusion
Seed protein percentage, yield components and grain yield of cowpea increased to a significant level with the application of humic acid, green tea extract and coffee extract as seed pretreatment and foliar application. Finally, within the scope of the research, the use of humic acid at the rate of 750 mg. L-1 and green tea at a concentration of 10% is recommended as seed pre-treatment and foliar application in the field. More research is needed on the recommendation of seed pre-treatment and foliar application of coffee extract.
Keywords
Antioxidant
Biological fertilizers
Pretreatment
Seed yield
Subjects
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Plant Productions
Volume 49, Issue 1
Spring 2026
Pages 173-187