Effects of Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates on Soil Properties, Nodulation and Yield of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Varieties in Lemu Bilbilo District of Arsi Zone, South Eastern Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted on farmer’s field during the 2017 main cropping season at Lemu Bilbilo with the objectives to determine the response of faba bean varieties to different rates of phosphorus fertilizer on nodulation and yield components of faba bean and the interaction effect of both phosphorus and faba bean varieties on yield and yield components of faba bean. The treatments include three faba bean varieties (Tumsa, Gebelcho and Dosha) and five phosphorus levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg P ha-1) from TSP. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete blocked design with factorial arrangement of 3 x 5 =15 treatment combinations with three replications. Significantly (P< 0.05) higher total number of nodule, effective nodules and non-effective nodules were recorded from Tumsa variety. Number of nodules per plant, and biomass yield were significantly affected by main effect of varieties. Higher total number of nodules per plant (63), number of non-effective nodules per plant (7.82) and nodule volume per plant (1.57 cm3) were obtained from application of 30 kg p ha-1. Higher biomass yield (14158 kg ha-1) and grain yield (6323 kg ha-1) were obtained from application of 40 kg P ha -1. Applications of different rates of P highly significantly (P<0.001) influenced on faba bean agronomic phosphorus use efficiency. Most of the parameters studied were positively correlated to biomass and grain yield of faba bean. Therefore, it can be concluded that application of 30 kg ha-1 of P with faba bean varies was proved to be productive and superior both in grain yield as well as economic advantage and might be recommended for Lemu Bilbilo area. Further study should be repeated both over locations and years in order to give full recommendation for practical application. Keywords: Faba bean, Phosphorus rates, available P, soil pH, basic cations, nodules DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-21-02 Publication date: November 30th 201