Productivity Improvement of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) through Elite Rhizobial Inoculants in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Mulugeta Mekonnen,Abere Mnalku

doi:10.12944/carj.9.1.08

Abstract

This study envisioned to assess the inoculation response of faba bean to six indigenous rhizobial isolates, 100 kg ha-1 DAP as a positive control and non-inoculated negative control under farmers’ field conditions at Welmera district, Ethiopia. The results revealed the presence of significantly different treatments (p ≤ 0.05) in grain yield. The highest grain yields (3966 kg ha-1and 3694 kg ha-1) were obtained from inoculation of rhizobial isolates (FB-AR-13 and FB-1018) during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 cropping seasons. Based on the two successive year’s average grain yield response, FB-AR-13 (3966 kg ha-1) became the first most performing isolate. The partial budget analysis results also showed that FB-AR-13 was the most promising isolate that showed a higher MRR 6422 %, which is 43% higher than the MRR of the local standard check FB-1018. Therefore, isolate FB-AR-13 is the best promising candidate for the development of commercial faba bean rhizobial inoculant in the central high lands of Ethiopia after further verification over different farmers' fields at different agro-ecologies.

Highlights

Faba bean (Viciafaba L.) is grown worldwide under different cropping systems as a dry grain, green grains/pods, and a green-manure legume
Faba bean is cultivated under rain fed and irrigated conditions and is distributed in more than 55 countries including Ethiopia
Faba bean is a multipurpose crop that contributes to the sustainability of cropping systems through its ability to contribute nitrogen (N) to the system by biologically fixing N2; diversification of production systems leading to decreased diseases, pests, and weed build-up, and potentially increased biodiversity; its capacity to reduce fossil energy consumption; providing food and feed rich in protein and carbohydrate (Jensen et al, 2010)

Summary

Introduction

Faba bean (Viciafaba L.) is grown worldwide under different cropping systems as a dry grain (pulse), green grains/pods, and a green-manure legume. Faba bean is cultivated under rain fed and irrigated conditions and is distributed in more than 55 countries including Ethiopia. Faba bean is a multipurpose crop that contributes to the sustainability of cropping systems through its ability to contribute nitrogen (N) to the system by biologically fixing N2; diversification of production systems leading to decreased diseases, pests, and weed build-up, and potentially increased biodiversity; its capacity to reduce fossil energy consumption; providing food and feed rich in protein and carbohydrate (Jensen et al, 2010). Ethiopia ranks second in the production of faba bean next to China and it is the fourth largest fababean exporting country next to France, Australia, and the United Kingdom (FAO, 2016).

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