<![CDATA[Bambara beans (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) are a horticultural crop belonging to the Fabaceae family. Production in Indonesia remains relatively low because of factors such as planting time, limited availability of bambara bean varieties—which causes farmers to rely on local varieties—and declining land productivity. This study aimed to determine the effects of NPK fertilizer doses and planting distances on the growth and yield of bambara beans (Vigna subterranea L.). We used a factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two factors. The first factor was the NPK fertilizer dose at five levels: 200 kg/ha, 300 kg/ha, 400 kg/ha, 500 kg/ha, and 600 kg/ha. The second factor was planting distance at three levels: 40 x 20 cm, 40 x 30 cm, and 40 x 40 cm. The results showed a significant interaction between NPK fertilizer dose and planting distance affecting plant height at 7–9 weeks after sowing, the number of flowers, and the fresh and dry weight of pods per plant. A single treatment of 400 kg/ha NPK fertilizer was optimal for plant height at 5–6 weeks after planting. The planting distance of 40 x 40 cm was most effective for increasing leaf number. The application of NPK fertilizer doses and planting distances individually had no significant effect on the number of gynophores or the number of pods per plant. The highest yield was observed at a planting distance of 40 x 30 cm combined with an NPK dose of 400 kg/ha, which can enhance productivity and yield. Therefore, this combination is recommended for cultivating local varieties of bambara beans.]]>
