Response of faba bean to phosphate fertilizer and weed control on nitisols of ethiopian highlands

Abstract

The effects of phosphorus fertilizer and weed control on yield and major yield components of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were studied on Nitisols of Ethiopian highlands. Factorial combinations of four levels of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg P ha -1 ) as triple super phosphate (TSP) and two levels of weeding (W1 = no weeding and W2 = hand weeding once six weeks after crop emergence) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that highly significant positive responses of number of pods per plant, total biomass and seed yields of faba bean to phosphorus fertilizer and weeding treatments were noted. Phosphorus level × weed control interaction over three years significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected faba bean seed yield at Rob Gebeya but not at Welmera. Phosphorus application at the rates of 10, 20 and 30 kg P ha -1 resulted in mean seed yield increases compared to the control of 20, 41 and 53%, respectively on the average of locations; 13, 33 and 51%, respectively at Welmera, and 26, 48 and 55%, respectively at Rob Gebeya. Weeding once increased mean seed yields of faba bean by 25% on the average (35 and 17% at Welmera and Rob Gebeya, respectively) compared to unweeded check. Seed yield was positively correlated with total biomass and number of pods per plant (r = 0.95 *** and 0.75 *** , respectively) at Welmera, and (r = 0.94 *** and 0.55 ** , respectively) at Rob Gebeya. The results of economic analysis indicated that the highest marginal rate of return was obtained from weeding once six weeks after crop emergence and application of 20 kg P ha -1 , which is economically the most feasible alternative on Nitisols of central Ethiopian highlands.

Phosphate fertilizer and weed control effects on growth and yield of field pea on Nitisols of central highlands of Ethiopia

“…The optimum dose of P for attaining an economic yield of field pea was found to be 20 kg ha -1 under weeded condition. A similar finding was also reported on faba bean by Getachew Agegnehu and Rezene Fessehaie (2006).…”

“…Grain yield was most strongly correlated with plant height, number of pods per plant and total plant biomass (r = 0.59**, 0.68*** and 0.94***, respectively), which indicate that large plant height, total plant biomass and number of pods per plant are essential to high grain yield (Table 6). Similarly, Getachew Agegnehu and Rezene Fessehaie (2006) showed that grain yield of faba bean was significantly positively correlated with plant height, total biomass and number of pods per plant. The application of P fertilizer and weed control resulted in a linear response function (Fig.…”

“…Acid Nitisols are of wide occurrence in the highlands of Ethiopia where the rainfall intensity is high and the land has been under cultivation for many years. These soils have pH values of less than 5.5, thereby resulting in low yields of field pea (Getachew Agegnehu and Rezene Fessehaie, 2006). The low yields in such soils could mainly be either due to the deficiency of nutrients, such as P, Ca and Mg (Taye Bekele and Höfner, 1993; Getachew Agegnehu and Rezene Fessehaie, 2006), or to low pH and toxicity of Al, Fe and Mn (Sharma et al, 1990).…”

Survey of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) diseases in major faba bean growing districts of North Gondar

“…It has been produced for centuries in Ethiopia and provides the much needed protein supplement to the diet of rural households. It also plays an important role in the socio-economic life of farming communities and a source of foreign currency to the country (Abebe et al, 2014, Agegnehu andFessehaie, 2006;Keneni and Jarso, 2002).…”

Participatory assessment of production threats, farmers’ desired traitsand selection criteria of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) varieties:opportunities for faba bean breeding in Ethiopia

“…Faba bean is a major source of dietary protein (Hassan et al, 2009) and staple food used in different forms by the majority of smallscale, subsistence farmers in Ethiopia. Besides this, it plays an important role in the management of soil fertility through crop rotation in cereal production contributing to agricultural sustainability (Agegnehu and Fessehaie 2006). It is also a foreign currency earner for the national economy.…”