Effect of Integrated Climate Change Resilient Cultural Practices on Faba Bean Rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae) Epidemics in Hararghe Highlands, Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate variability due to increasing temperature and erratic precipitation could affect faba bean rust disease epidemics and the crop productivity. Rust caused by Uromyces viciae-fabae is one of the serious foliar diseases of faba bean in Ethiopia. Field studies were conducted at Haramaya and Arbarakate during 2012 and 2013 to assess effects of integrated climate change resilient cultural practices on rust epidemics in the Hararghe highlands of Ethiopia. Three climate change resilient cultural practices: intercropping, compost application and furrow planting alone and in integration were evaluated using Degaga and Bulga-70 faba bean varieties and Melkassa-IV maize variety. Treatments were factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Faba bean-maize row intercropping and intercropping integrated treatments significantly reduced disease severity, AUDPC and disease progress rate. These treatments reduced rust mean severity by up to 36.5% (2012) and 27.4% (2013) at Haramaya, and up to 27% in 2013 at Arbarakate on both varieties as compared to sole planting. Compost fertilization also led to slow epidemic progression of rust and significantly reduced disease parameters when integrated with maize row intercropping. Compost fertilization in row intercropping recorded the lowest (23.1%) final mean disease severity and the highest (36.5%) percentage reduction in mean disease severity compared to sole cropping at Haramaya in 2012. The trend was similar in 2013 at both locations. Degaga had the lowest rust disease parameters studied compared to Bulga-70 at both locations over years. The overall results indicated that integrated climate change resilient cultural practices were effective to slow the epidemics of rust and to increase faba bean productivity. Hence, integrated climate change resilient cultural practices along with other crop management systems are recommended in the study areas.