Response of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to Application of Lime and Phosphorus on Acidic Soil of Areka, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil acidity and low available P are the major soil chemical constraints which limit productivity of common bean on Nitisols of southern Ethiopia. In view of this, a field experiment was conducted at Areka Agricultural Research Centre in the 2014 main cropping season to assess the effect of lime and phosphorus fertilizer rates on the yield and yield components of common bean. Four levels of P (0, 10, 20, and 30 kg ha^-1) and four levels of lime (CaCO₃) (0, 0.9, 1.8, and 2.7 t ha^-1) were laid out in a factorial combination in randomized complete block design with three replications. Significantly the highest plant height (72.34 cm), leaf area index (3.257), effective nodules per plant (93.55), primary branches per plant (2.467), number of pods per plant (18.52), 100 seed weight (24.31 g), and seed yield (3176 kg ha^-1) were obtained from the highest rate of P (30 kg ha^-1). Similarly, the highest rate of lime (2.7 t ha^-1) resulted in significantly highest total number of nodules per plant (67.20) and 100 seed weight (24.61 g). On the other hand, none of the parameters were significantly affected by the interaction of the two factors. Moreover, the highest economic return (10,637 Birr ha^-1) was recorded from the combination of 2.7 t lime ha^-1 and 30 kg ha^-1 of P. In general, common bean responded positively to the application of both lime and phosphorus with more remarkable response to P application. Thus, it can be concluded that application of 2.7 t ha^-1 lime and 30 kg ha^-1 of P proved to be superior with respect to grain yield as well as economic advantage.

Keyords: CaCO₃, Nitisols, Phaseolus vulgaris, Phosphorus, Soil acidity