RESPONSE OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) TO LIME AND PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION ON ACIDIC SOIL OF DORZE TEGECHA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important legume food with multiple uses. Its productivity is low especially in acidic soil of Dorze Tegecha Kebele, Southern Ethiopia. Liming and phosphate fertilization hold promise in amelioration of these soils and enhancing crop productivity. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of lime and phosphorus fertilizer application rates on growth, yield components and yield of common bean during the 2021 Belg season in the area. The experiment comprised two lime rates (no lime and lime @ 3t ha-1 ) and five rates of P2O5 (0, 23, 46, 69 and 92 kg ha-1 ) which was laid out in randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. Data for crop growth, nodulation, phenology, yield components and yields were collected and analyzed. Maximum plant height (78.55 cm) and branch number plant-1 (9.26) were obtained with treatment having lime and P2O5 @ 69 kg ha-1 application. The longest days to 50% flowering (47.5) and 90 % maturity (93.67) were recorded from treatment having no P2O5 application. Maximum total nodule number (156.11), effective nodule number (100.44) and number of pods plant-1 (15.39) were recorded with treatment having lime and P2O5 @ 92 kg ha-1 application. The highest number of seeds pod-1 (6.08) and hundred seed weight (55.05 g) were obtained with P2O5 @ 69 kg ha-1 application. Highest above ground dry biomass yield of 8852.6 kg ha-1 and highest grain yield of 3029.3 kg ha-1 were recorded with treatment having lime and P2O5 @ 92 and 69 kg ha-1 application. The treatment combination of lime @ 3t ha-1 and P2O5 @ 69 kg ha-1 gave maximum grain yield (3,029.3 kg ha-1 ), net benefit (59,632.88birr ha-1 ) and marginal rate of return (840.14%). Therefore, lime @ 3t ha-1 and P2O5 @ 69 kg ha-1 may be recommended for higher productivity and profitability of common bean in Dorze Tegecha. But, it needs its multi-season and multi-location investigation for further validation of lime and P rates