Legume-Rhizobium Interaction Benefits Implementation in Enhancing Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) Crop Yield and Economic Return

Bayou Bunkura Allito

doi:10.5772/intechopen.101184

Abstract

This study reports the interaction of rhizobium strains and varieties on yield and yield components of faba bean and the economic feasibility of the inoculant use in faba bean production. The two years field experiments used a split-plot design that involved six elite rhizobium strains as the main plot and three faba bean varieties as sub-plot treatments. Non-inoculated plants with N fertilizer and without fertilizer were included as +N (46 kg ha−1) and −N controls, respectively. Phosphorus (P) was applied as triple super-phosphate at the time of sowing. Data on yield and yield components were collected and statistically analyzed. Partial budget, dominance, and marginal rate of return analysis were conducted to identify profitable rhizobial strain-variety combinations for each study location. Rhizobium strains NSFBR-15, TAL_1035 and NSFBR-12 increased grain and haulm yield of faba bean more than N fertilizer across the study locations. Location, rhizobium strain, and variety interaction influenced yield and yield components of faba bean. Economic analysis document that rhizobium inoculation for symbiotic N fixation is more profitable for supplying N to faba bean than N fertilizer application. Rhizobium strains NSFBR-15, TAL_1035, and NSFBR-12 with all faba bean varieties resulted in the highest revenue with a higher marginal rate of return at all study locations.

Highlights

Faba bean (Vicia faba L) is the most important grain legume produced in Ethiopia [1]
This study has shown significant location Â strain Â variety interaction effects on grain and haulm yields, plant height, number of pods plantÀ1, and hundred seed weight of faba bean
Results clearly showed that rhizobium inoculation is indispensable for increasing the growth and yield of faba bean in the study locations

Summary

Introduction

Faba bean (Vicia faba L) is the most important grain legume produced in Ethiopia [1]. Because of its nutritional and Legumes economic values, increasing the production of faba bean in sub-Saharan Africa is very important to meet the demand of the growing population [6, 7]. Despite its high socio-economic importance, the yield of faba bean (1.6 t haÀ1) is very low compared with its potential yield (5 t haÀ1) [8] Both biotic and abiotic factors account for the low productivity of faba bean in on-farm growing conditions [9]. The low use of N fertilizer is because most smallholder farmers have very low financial resources to purchase inorganic fertilizers It is, imperative to search for alternatives that can increase crop yields to satisfy the growing protein food demand while maintaining environmental safety and protection [13]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion