Response of Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) Varieties to Application of Blended NPS Fertilizer in Bore, Southern Ethiopia

Low soil fertility influences plant establishment, growth, seed yield and the profitability of a field pea production in the study area. A field experiment was conducted in Bore on station of Bore Agricultural Research Centre with five levels of NPS (0, 50, 100 and 150) with three varieties of field pea (Arjo-1 and Bilalo) in randomized complete block design with three replications. The aim of the study were to evaluate the effect of blended NPS rates on the yield and yield components of field pea varieties and to identify economically feasible rates of blended NPS that increase the productivity of the field pea. Growth, Yield and yield components of field pea were significantly influenced by different rates of blended fertilizer treatments. Results showed significant effect of various levels of blended fertilizer on all tested parameters except on days to flowering, days to maturity and number of seed per pod. Variety Arjo-1 showed the highest plant height (182.1 cm), highest grain yield (5023 kg ha-1) and highest net benefit (152299.5 Birr ha-1) with application of 150 kg NPS ha-1. Likewise, variety Bilalo with application of 150 kg blended NPS ha-1 fertilizer scored significantly the highest hundred seed weight (271.3 g). The highest number of total pods per plant (89.67) was recorded at application rate of 100 kg NPS ha-1 variety Arjo-1 and same application of fertilizer gave the highest agronomic efficiency (1282 %) for Bilalo variety. Although, minimum value of those traits were obtained with 0 kg ha-1. Similarly, application of 50 kg NPS gave net benefit (132111.0 Birr ha-1) with the highest marginal rate of return (129686 Birr ha-1) with Arjo-1 variety. Therefore, production of field pea with the application of 50 kg NPS ha-1 was most productive for economical production.