Effect of Lime and Phosphorus Fertilizer on Soybean [Glycine max L. (Merrill)] Grain Yield and Yield Components at Mettu in South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil acidity and poor soil fertility are regarded as crop productivity limiting factors particularly in south western Ethiopia. This, study was conducted to determine the effect of lime and phosphorus fertilizers on soybean yields and to explore the best treatments that can maximize the productivity of soybean. Factorial combinations of five lime levels (0, 1.41, 2.82, 4.23 and 5.64 t ha^-1) and four P levels (0, 10, 20 and 30kg P ha^-1) were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Findings showed that the application of phosphorus (30Kg/ha significantly increased the plant height (67.03 cm), number of pods per plant (49), number of seeds per plant (77.67) above ground biomass (6160Kg/ha) and the grain yield (1828.44 Kg/ha). A combined application of phosphorous at 30 kg/ha and lime at 5.64 t ha^-1 had good response in reclaiming the soil and fostering the crop productivity, which is statically at pars with 4.23 lime t/ha and 30 P kg/ha. Study concluded that application of lime with phosphorus proved to be superior with respect to grain yield as well as other yield and growth parameters of soybean.

Keywords: Lime, phosphorus, soil Acidity and soybean

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-9-04

Publication date:September 30^th 2020