Evaluation of Pigeon Pea Varieties and Cultivars for Soil Nutrient Addition and Fertility Level in Case of Fadis District of Eastern Hararghe Zone

Abstract

The study was conducted at Fadis research station of Fadis district in the eastern hararghe zone during 2019, 2020 and 2021. Pigeon pea is a deep-rooted and drought tolerant grain legume that adds substantial amount of organic matter to the soil and has the ability to fix up to 235 kg N/ha and produces more N per unit area from plant biomass than many other legumes. Seven pigeon pea cultivars and four variety were used as treatment materials. The objective of study was to quantify amount of soil nutrient (N) obtained/fixed because of the pigeon pea cultivars or varieties. Treatments of the experiments were pigeon pea cultivars and variety, ELR16555, ILRI16526, ELR16524, ILRI 11575, Tsegas variety, Local, Danda’a variety, ELR 11566, Belabas, ELR 16537 and ELR 11563 respectively. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications of each. Data like Plant height, Total biomass, canopy area, soil sample before and after were collected and analyzed using SAS version 9.1 (SAS, 2002). Different Pigeon pea cultivars shows highly significant difference among the treatment in terms of plant height at 5% significance level. Different Pigeon pea cultivars and variety shows highly significant difference among the treatment in terms of plant height at 5% significance level (table 2). The highest plant height (331.5cm) was recorded from Belabas variety followed by Tsegas (308.6cm) and Danda’a variety (294.4cm). On the other hand, ELRI 16555 cultivars shows the shortest plant height (213.0cm) followed by local check (221.7cm). The highest biomass (125000 kg/ha) was recorded from Tsegas variety and the lowest biomass (45000 kg/ha) was recorded from ELRI 16537 cultivars. The highest %OC, %TN and available phosphorus and CEC were recorded from the soil under the Tsegas pigeon pea variety followed by Belabas pigeon pea variety. On the contrary the lowest were recorded from ELR11575 and local check. Generally, from the result it is possible to conclude that the highest biomass yield and almost all of the highest desired soil parameters were recorded by Tsegas variety and it is possible to recommend for the farmers of Fadis District and similar agro- ecologies.