This study investigatecl the effect of vermicompost tea (VCT) as a natural foliar fertilizer in faba bean. To determine the effect of ver at different doses on the growth and reproduc tion of faba bean, ver was producecl and three different concentrations (0, 10, and 20% VCl) were appliecl as a foliar fertilizer to faba bean plants. Plant height, number of flowers, and pods per plant as well as soluble sugars were measurecl weekl y after treatment for a period of 11 weeks. Treatecl plants were larger and had more flowers per clump, as well as more clumps and pods per plant than the contrai. Moreover, treatecl plants reachecl the flowering stage at least 3 weeks earlier than the contrai. This could be explainecl by the presence of nutrients, humic acid, and probably hormones in ver, which may positively affect growth, reproduction, and yield. Treatment at 10% VCT presentecl better values than 20% VCT. The latter containecl more humic acid, which probably limitecl growth and flower ing. The soluble sugar and protein contents were higher in treatecl plants, and the highest values coincidecl with the flowering and reproductive stages. Similarly, seecls produced by treatecl plants were richer in protein that control seecls. These results indicate that 10% VCT is a useful fertilizer to improve growth in faba bean. This study highlights the possibility of using ver as a foliar fertilizer to increase growth in faba bean.

The integrated production in durable agriculture aims to improve the efficiency of biological inputs through formulations extending the remanence in the field or the incorporation of synergistic products which, being themselves nontoxic at used quantities, increase the protective action of the viabe cultivations. The lombricultivation represents an appropriate technology to enhance the value of the farm residues and manage, on a long term basis, plant health. The study focused on the stimulation of natural defenses of bean through the use of a lombricompost dilutions produced in two different seasons. The effect of lombricompost has been evaluated based on the Aphis fabae population density in relation to the phytochemical quality of the nutritional support. Variations of biochemical molecule contents and major mineral elements during the leaf expanding phase have been noticed. These changes affect the biological performance as well as the density of A. fabae population. The results allowed detecting a positive effect of lombricompost on plant chemistry. On the other hand, enrichment in proteins and proline under the effect of strong dilution was noticed. Finally, results related to the repressive effect of the different forms of lombricompost showed a marked difference between treatments and the control, with a stronger effect on the winged forms. Results also indicated some variability of the Aphis Fabae populational structure in relation to the phytochemical enrichments established by the application of lombricompost.