Influence of Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates on Yield and Yield Components of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Varieties in Lemu Bilbilo District of Arsi Zone, Southeastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Faba bean production is a common practice in Lemu Bilbilo areas. However, faba bean productivity is affected and limited by poor soil fertility and lack of alternative technologies such as application of optimum phosphorus fertilizer for different faba bean varieties. In view of this, 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 P fertilizer and its influence on yield and yield components of faba bean varieties. 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 Triple Super Phosphate. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete blocked design with 3 x 5 factorial arrangements with three replications. Significantly (P