The role of drainage and genotype in improving the productivity of Faba Bean on waterlogged vertisols.
2002
Gemechu Keneni; Mussa Jarso and Belay Asmamaw(Researchers)
The potential for crop production on Vertisols in Ethiopia is tremendous. However, waterlogging is the dominant constrain to increased production on these soils. Prospects for the integration of appropriate drainage of excess moisture and improved genotypes to ameliorate this constraint were studied in faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Multilocation variety trials were conducted under broadbed and furrow (BBF) and flat beds from 1996 to 1999, and the grain yield, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1 and 1000 _ seed weight data were recorded. The results indicated that genotypes varies significantly for all traits except for number of seeds pod-1. Grain yield and number of pods plant-1 were found to be more sensitive to wqterlogging than the other traits. A mean yield increment of 46% was obtained with improved drainage and local cultivars. Improved cultivars developed for areas without a waterlogging problem showed a relatively yield reduction on undrained sites and a 49% yield increment under BBF as compared to local cultivars grown on flat beds. The highest yielding genotypes grown on flat beds exhibited a mean yield increment of 66% relative to local cultivars on flat beds. The integration of improved drainage using BBF with the highest yielding genotypes resulted in a mean 106% yield increment. This indicates that the production under waterlogging stress of varieties developed for areas without a waterlogging constraint is not advisable, and it is necessary to specifically breed varieties for tolerance to waterlogged conditions.
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