Effects blended NPSB fertilizer on faba bean (Vicia faba L.) yield in selected districts of North Shewa zone, Oromia, central highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

B.Neda*, G. Megersa, T. Bulto and A. Dugassa

The Faba bean (Vicia Faba L.) is a well-known legume crop in Ethiopia and the North Shoa district. In order to assess the impact of Faba bean varieties on blended NPSB fertilizer levels, an experiment was carried out in the districts of Girar Jarso and Degam in the main cropping season of 2022 on a farmer's training center and farmer's field, respectively. A randomized complete block design was used to set up a factorial combination of three improved varieties (Numan, Alloshe, and Gora) with one local variety, four NPSB fertilizer levels (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha^-1) and three replications. The findings showed that above ground biomass, grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, days to flowering, days to maturity and plant height were significantly (P 0.001) affected by the main effects of NPSB and variety. At the NPSB rate of 120 kg ha^-1 the maximum plant height of 45.58 cm, the number of pods per plant of 23.43, the number of seeds per pod of 63.23, the grain yield of 3527.17 kg ha^-1 and the straw yield were all achieved. Additionally significantly (P 0.001) impacted by the fertilizer and variety interaction were the plant height, branch count, pod count, seed count, above-ground biomass, grain yield, straw yield, and harvest index. The highest grain yield (4060.33 kg ha^-1) and harvest index (60.50%) were obtained with rates of 120 kg NPSB ha^-1 and the cultivar Alloshe. According to the partial budget analysis, Alloshe's use of 120 kg NPSB ha-1 produced the highest net return (196,787.8 birr ha^-1) and MRR (677.7%). Based on the findings of this study, it can be inferred that the production of Faba Beans in the study region is suitable for the Faba bean variety Alloshe and the NPSB rate of 120 kg ha^-1.