Effect of Blended NPSB Fertilizer Rates and Varieties on Productivity of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Midland of Guji Zone, Southern Oromia

Low soil fertility comprised of low available phosphorus, total nitrogen and sulphur are the major yield limiting factors for faba bean production in the study area. A field experiment was conducted at Adola Sub-site station of Bore Agricultural Research Centre. The treatments consisted of two varieties namely Dalota and Habru with four levels of NPSB (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha) in randomized complete block design with three replications. The aim of the study conducted to evaluate the effect of application of Blended NPSB fertilizer and to determine economically viable blended NPSB rates that would boost chickpea productivity. Results showed significant effect of various levels of blended fertilizer on all tested parameters except on number of seed per pod and thousand seed weight. Application of 100 kg NPSB kg ha-1 gave highest number of primary branches per plant (3.02), plant height (50.02) and grain yield (2663 kg ha-1), net return (103376.5 ETB) with acceptable MRR (666.0%). Days to flowering (52.62), Days to maturity (108.96), number of pods per plant (40.31) had the highest value with 150 kg/ha with negative agronomic efficiency. Therefore, production of chickpea with the application of 100 kg NPSB ha-1 was most productive for economical production.