Growth and yield responses of common bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.) to blended fertilizer under hot submoist tropical conditions in southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract A suitable fertilizer level plays a decisive role in crop production in various environments. A split‐plot experiment was conducted under a hot submoist tropical environment (HSMTE) in southwestern Ethiopia to determine the effect of cultivar (Awash‐2, Goberasha, Nasir, and local) and the nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, and boron (NPSB) blended fertilizer rate (0, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 kg ha −1 ) on the growth, yield components, and yield of common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and to optimize the NPSB‐blended fertilizer rate for common bean production in the HSMTE. Both cultivar and NPSB‐blended fertilizer significantly affected most of the response variables, but their interaction affected only days to physiological maturity (DPM) and the leaf area index (LAI). Nasir had a longer plant with a greater number of pods per plant than did Goberasha and local and had a greater harvest index (HI) and grain yield (0.59 and 2828.0 kg ha −1, , respectively) than did the other cultivars (0.51–0.56 and 1747.4–2278.1 kg ha −1 , respectively). Nasir also showed the greatest LAI (8.9) with the least DPM (74 days) for the 150 kg ha −1 NPSB‐blended fertilizer treatment. The growth, yield components, and yield were also greater for the 150 kg ha −1 NPSB‐blended fertilizer treatment than for the other treatments. These findings exhibit the importance of cultivar and NPSB‐blended fertilizer in modifying the growth and crop performance of common bean in the HSMTE and a tailored fertilization strategy in enhancing crop productivity in challenging environments.