Phosphorus ferilizer and farmyard manure effects on the growth and yield of Faba Bean and some soil chemical properties in acidic nitisols of the central highlands of Ethiopia.
2005
Getachew Agegnehu;Taye Bekele and agajie Tesfaye(Researchers)
Poor soil fertility is a major constraint in faba bean (vicia faba L.) production on central Ethiopian highlands. A field experiment was conducted at Holetta Agricultural Research Centre during the growing seasons of 2001 to 2003. The objective was to study the ameliorating effects of farmyard manure (FYM) and phosphorus fertilizer on the yield and yield components of faba bean. Three levels of air-dried decomposed FYM (0,4 and 8 t ha-1) as main plots and five levels of fertilizer (0, 13, 26, 39 and 52 kg P ha-1) in the form of triple superphosphate as subplots were arranged in a split plot design with four replications. Soil analytical results after harvesting indicated relatively higher pH as well as concentrations of P and Ca were observed in both FYM and P-treated soils. Results indicated a positive liner response of faba bean seed yield to FYM and P fertilizer applications. Total biomass yield, seed yield, number of pods per plant and seeds per pod were positively influenced by FYM and P applications. The application of FYM at 4 and 8 t ha -1 increased seed yield of faba bean by 23 and 41%, respectively, compared to the control. Similarly, the application of P fertilizer at the rates of 13, 26, 39 and 52 kg P ha-1 resulted in a linear response with seed yield increment of 22, 29, 42 and 47%, respectively, over the control. Faba bean seed yield was positively correlated with total biomass, number of pods per plant and seeds per pod (r=0.88** 0.70** and 0.47**). Based on the economic analysis, application of 13 kg P ha-1 had the highest marginal rate of return for faba bean production on Nitisols of central Ethiopian highlands.
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