RESPONSE OF FABA BEAN (Vicia faba L.) VARIETIES TO PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER RATES IN LIMU BILBILO DISTRICT OF ARSI ZONE, SOUTH EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Faba bean production is a common practice in Limu Bilbilo areas. However, its productivity is affected and limited by poor soil fertility and lack of alternative technologies such as application of optimum phosphorus fertilizer for different faba bean varieties. Limited studies on the role of P on faba bean varietal yield and yield components are reported in Ethiopia, especially in the case of Limu Bilbilo conditions. Studies on the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilization are generally missing in the area. Farmers have been using fertilizer rates based on blanket recommendations. Apart from this, there is scanty information on the optimum P rates for faba bean to enhance its production and productivity. In view of this, a field experiment was conducted on farmer’s field during the 2017 main cropping season at Limu Bilbilo with the objectives to determine the response of faba bean varieties to different rates of P fertilizer and its effect on yield and yield components of faba bean varieties in Limu Bilbilo district. The treatments include three faba bean varieties (Tumsa, Gebelcho and Dosha) and five phosphorus levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg P ha-1) from triple super phosphate (TSP). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement of 3 x 5 =15 treatment combinations with three replications. Selected physical and chemical properties of soil, nodulation parameters, growth parameters, yield and yield components were recorded and analyzed. The available P content of the soil was generally found to be very low to low and application of P significantly (P