Abstract
Ethiopia is the second world’s largest producer of faba bean. However, its production is still constrained by several factors. Excess water stress and weeds are the major problems under vertisols. Thus, the current study was initiated to evaluate the contribution of drainage systems (Broad Bed and Furrow (BBF), traditional drainage method (Shurube) and flat bed); and weeding frequencies (no weeding, one and two times weeding) to the yield of faba bean varieties (Local, Degagga and Selale Kasim 91-13). The experiment was conducted at Arsi Robe and Sagure experimental stations for three consecutive years (2005/6-2007/8 cropping seasons) using RCB design with split plot arrangement in three replications. From the combined analysis of variance over years and locations, it was found that the treatments had highly significant (P<0.001) positive effect for yield and some yield components over the checks. BBF and Shurube had 13.3% and 12.17% yield advantage over flat planting, respectively. But, there were no significant yield difference between these two drainage methods. Besides, the study revealed that twice and one time hand weeding was found to contribute 33.37% and 28.66% yield advantage over no weeding, correspondingly. On the other hand, twice hand weeding also had 6.6% yield gain over one time weeding. There were also highly significant differences (P<0.001) among the three varieties for grain yield. The use of improved variety, Selale Kasim-91-13 had 31.42% and 23.11% yield advantage over the local variety at Arsi Robe and Sagure, respectively. In general, the study indicated that better yields can be obtained by the use of the improved variety on either BBF or the Shurube method and weeding the fields twice. Therefore, the use of traditional drainage method, Shurube should be demonstrated as equally as BBF in areas where it was not known.