Abstract:
Haricot bean is an important legume crop in Ethiopia. But, its grain productivity is far less
than global average due to various biotic and abiotic factors e.g poor soil fertility, lack of
improved varieties are among the factors for low productivity of haricot bean. Therefore, the
study was conducted to determine the effect of haricot bean varieties and rate of blended
NPSB fertilizer in improving productivity of haricot bean in Wolaita Sodo, Southern
Ethiopia. The experiment consisted of four levels of blended NPSB fertilizer rates (0, 75, 150,
and 225 kg ha−1) and three varieties of haricot bean (Hawassa Dume, Red Wolaita, and
Nasir). It was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three
replications. Data on phenological, growth, yield components and yield were collected. The
analysis of variance demonstrated that significantly high number of days to 50% flowering
(47.66) and numbers of days to 90% physiological maturity (97.33), highest numbers of
seed/pod (6.96), leaf area (1268.1cm
2
) and leaf area index (3.17), were recorded from
variety Red Woliata while variety hawassa dume showed highest number of primary
branches plant-1
(4.85), and hundred seed wieght (24.68 g). The highest total numbers of
nodules (72.81), numbers of pod/plant (17.33), above ground dry biomass (5002.8 kg ha-1
)
and grain yield (2934.5kg ha-1
) were recoreded from variety Nassir. In respect to fertilizer
rate, days to flowering (45.22), physiological maturity (89.33), primary branches (5.74),
plant height (80.04cm), leaf area (1210.7cm
2
) and leaf area index (3.02) were highest with
the application of 225kg ha-1
blended NPSB fertilizer. Maximum total numbers of nodules
(76.37), number of pod/plant (20.44), numbers of seed/pod (6.96), 100 seed weight (23.12g),
above ground dry biomass (5316.3 kg ha-1
) and grain yield (3563.5kg ha-1
), were also
obtained from the application of 225kg ha−1
. blended NPSB fertilizer. The economic analysis
showed that the highest net benefit (133954.95-birr ha−1) with marginal rate of return
(MRR%) (128) was obtained from variety Nassir with the application of 225 kg ha−1 blended
NPSB fertilizer rate. Thus, the production of variety Nassir with 225kg ha−1 blended NPSB
fertilizer rate can be economically feasibile in the study area although further study should
be carried out in similar agro ecology and soil condition to make a concrete
recommendation.
