Evaluation of different blended fertilizer types and rates for better yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at Mirab Abaya, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, the common bean has been cultivated in different parts of the country. However, average national and regional yield is low due to various biotic and abiotic stresses like diseases, insect pests, drought, and nutritional deficiencies. Hence, this experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 cropping season to determine the optimum rates and types of blended fertilizer for maximum yield of common bean in Mirab Abaya woreda, Southern Ethiopia. The experiment was comprised of eight treatments; control, 100 kg NPS +10 kg urea (23 , 36, 7), 142 kg NPS + 42 kg urea (46 , 54 ,10), 189 kg NPS + 72 kg urea (69 , 72 ,13) , 100 kg NPSB + 11 kg urea ( 23, 36 , 6.7, 0.71), 150 kg NPSB + 42 kg urea, 200 kg NPSB + 72 kg urea (69, 72, 13 1.4 ) and 150 kg NPSB + 141 kg urea (92, 54, 10, 1.07) ha-1 blended fertilizers; and was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on growth and yield related parameters were collected and analyzed using SAS software. The significant effect of blended fertilizers was observed on plant height, branches number per plant and grain yield and non-significant on pods number per plant and seeds number per pod of common bean. The highest grain yield (3858 kg) was obtained with 100 kg NPS + 10 kg ha-1 urea application, while the lowest (3025 kg) ha-1 was obtained from control. The highest net return of 33072 Eth-birr ha-1 with marginal rate of return of 354% and 26524 Eth-birr ha-1 with marginal rate of return of 1481% were obtained from the application of 100 kg ha-1 of NPS blended fertilizer with 10 kg urea ha-1 and 200 kg ha-1 of NPSB blended fertilizer combined with 72 kg urea ha-1 respectively. Therefore, based on the yield response and economic indicators, it is recommended to apply 100 kg ha-1 of NPS blended fertilizer along with 10 kg urea ha-1 for common bean at Mirab Abaya, Southern Ethiopia and areas with the same soil conditions and agro ecology.