Response of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) to Rhizobium Inoculation and Potassium Fertilizer Rates at Alicho Wuriro Highland, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil fertility decline is the second prime factor after diseases that limit faba bean productivity in Ethiopia. Due to this effect, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of faba bean to rhizobium inoculation and K fertilizers application at Worabe Agricultural Research Center, Siltie Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples' Regional State, from June to October, 2016. A factorial combination of two levels of rhizobium (inoculated and uninoculated) and three K levels (0, 30, and 60 kg K ha^-1) was laid in randomized complete block design with six replications. The results showed that inoculation of rhizobium strain significantly affected all parameters studied in this experiment except number of seeds pod^-1. Combined application of rhizobium inoculation with potassium fertilizer significantly (p< 0.05) influenced plant height, leaves plant^-1, root dry weight, pods plant^-1 and above ground dries matter. The results indicated that the combined use of potassium fertilizer with rhizobium inoculation could be good nutrient management strategy that increases faba bean production.

Keywords: growth, rhizobium, yield, yield component