Effects of NPSB Fertilizers Rate on the Yield of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at Tocha District, Southern Ethiopia

Use of balanced nutrition means supplying other essential plant nutrients in adequate amount and proportion along with N and P. This implies N and P fertilizers are not the only yield determining nutrients but also S, B, and Cu nutrients are important nutrient for crop production. A trial was conducted in Tocha District to evaluate the rate of blended fertilizers to improve Common bean yield during main cropping season of 2019 and 2020. The experiment consists of seven treatment including (1) control, (2) NPSB: 18.9-37.7-6.95-0.1 (3) NPSB: 28.35-56.55-10.425-0.15 (4) NPSB: 37.8-75.4-13.9-0.2, (5) NPSB: 18.9-37.7-6.95-0.1+0.4kgCu, (6) NPSB: 28.35-56.55-10.425-0.15+0.4kgCu and (7) NPSB: 37.8-75.4-13.9-0.2+0.4kgCu. Soil physic chemical properties of the experimental site had moderately acidic, moderate level of OC and total N, high level of exchangeable K, very high level of CEC, low level of available P and clay loam textural class. In generally, application of blended fertilizer yielded better when compared with control. NPSB with the ratio of 37.8-75.4-13.9-0.2 (200kg NPSB) gave significantly optimum yield (4368.83 kg ha-1) compared to other treatments and also the highest net benefit (18725 ETB/ha) was obtained with acceptable marginal rate of return (MRR) (375.91%) which is more than the minimum acceptable MRR (100%) considered in this experiment. Similarly, NPSB 18.9-37.7-6.95-0.1 gave considerable net benefit with acceptable MRR. Therefore, based on the yield response and economic indicators, 200kg NPSB (37.8-75.4-13.9-0.2) is recommended as the best option and 100kg NPSB (18.9-37.7-6.95-0.1) as an alternative option for common bean producers at Tocha district and areas with the same soil conditions and agro-ecology.&nbsp