Influence of blended NPSB fertilizer on nodulation and yield performance of Rhizobium inoculated common bean varieties in acidic soil, western Ethiopia

Abstract

The decline of soil fertility and limited adaptive cultivars are some of the factors that affect crop production. This study aimed to examine the response of Rhizobium inoculated common bean varieties to NPSB fertilizer application for nodulation, yield, and yield related traits. Three varieties of common bean (Local, Loko, and Nasir) were combined with four rates of blended NPSB (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1) fertilizers in randomized complete block design with three replications arranged factorially. The result revealed significantly highest number of total nodules (53.7), effective nodules per plant (35.54), number of pods per plant (7.4), plant stand count (87%), biomass (17.5 t ha1), seed yield (2996 kg ha1), and harvest index (16.67%) were recorded at the rate of 100 kg ha−1 NPSB which was 183%, 60%, 100%, 19%, 56%, 112%, and 33.3% increment over the control, respectively. Nodules fresh weight and nodules dry weight per plant showed 188% and 344.8% improvement over control, respectively. Nassir variety was higher in nodulation and yield, while Loko variety had long rooting which has implication on nitrogen fixation and plant nutrition. Thus, the result suggests that highest seed yield was achieved from variety Nasir (2996 kg ha−1) with 100 kg ha−1 blended NPSB combination producing net benefit ha−1 of 79,245.78 ETB (Ethiopian Birr).