Field evaluation of haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) response to supplemental irrigation in Arba Minch area: Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to determine the impact of supplemental irrigation (SI) on the water use efficiency and yield of haricot beans during the growing seasons from 2020 to 2022. Six treatments were tested, including rain‐fed/no irrigation (T1), full irrigation throughout the season (T2), SI at vegetative, flowering and pod formation (T3), SI at emergence, vegetative and pod formation (T4), SI at emergence, flowering and grain filling (T5) and SI at emergence, pod formation and grain filling (T6), with three replications arranged in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that T2 significantly affected all growth and yield parameters except pod length and harvest index. However, T3 provided better water use efficiency and more acceptable yield reduction than T2. Thus, applying SI during the vegetative, flowering and pod formation phases proves to be more efficient for the production of haricot beans in the area under study as it leads to better economic returns and water productivity. In summary, irrigating the crop during the critical growth stages would result in water conservation and improved water productivity. Further research is recommended on SI to improve water use efficiency across different locations and seasons.