Faba bean precursor crop and N rates on subsequent yield components of maize in Toke Kutaye, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

The biological nitrogen fixation in faba bean on subsequent nitrogen fertilizer requirement of highland maize varieties would be useful in the guiding application of additional nitrogen fertilizer in cropping sequence. Significantly higher mean leaf area, leaf area index, plant height, grain yield, thousand seed weight, dry biomass and harvest index of maize were obtained following faba bean precursor crop with nitrogen application. Interaction of faba bean precursor crop with rhizobium inoculation by maize varieties and nitrogen fertilizer was significantly differed in all the maize characteristics measured. Interaction of faba bean precursor crop with rhizobium inoculation and maize varieties significantly affected mean leaf area and leaf area index of maize varieties. Maize planted following faba bean precursor crop without rhizobium inoculation produced significantly higher mean grain yield at full recommended nitrogen fertilizer. Significantly higher mean grain yield of maize was obtained from the application of half recommended nitrogen fertilizer following faba bean precursor crop with rhizobium inoculation. The planting of faba bean varieties with and without rhizobium inoculation was improved N status of the soil and nitrogen fertilizer response maize varieties. Production of maize varieties following faba bean precursor crop without and with rhizobium inoculation by the application of half recommended nitrogen fertilizer were recommended for sustainable maize production in highlands of western Ethiopia.