GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF HARICOT BEAN (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) VARIETIES TO BLENDED NPSB FERTILIZER LEVELS IN WOLAITA SODO, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

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.