ABSTRACT

Continuous use of only N and P fertilisers that depletes secondary and micronutrients has been presented as a major cause for low wheat yields (2.2 t/ha) in the Ethiopian highlands. In this study, on-farm trials were conducted to compare the effects of multi-nutrient blended fertilisers on the wheat yield on Nitisols in southern Ethiopia. Five quantities of fertiliser blend (50, 100, 150, 200, 300 kg NPS + ZnB kg/ha) were compared against a newly introduced compound fertiliser (150 kg/ha NPS) and the conventionally used NP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate DAP) fertiliser at 150 kg/ha. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated five times using farm fields as replicates. Results revealed that application of 200 and 300 kg/ha of NPS + ZnB blend fertiliser produced significantly (p < 0.01) higher biomass (16.9 t/ha) and grain yield (3.7 t/ha) than the lower amounts. However, the marginal rate of return was highest for 100 kg NPS + ZnB/ha, but compared with DAP, the blend fertiliser did not produce significantly higher yield. Conversely, the agronomic nutrient use efficiency was significantly higher for NPS + ZnB blend suggesting the importance of balanced fertilization. Read the journal here.

Eyasu Elias1* , Beyene Teklu2 and Tewodros Tefera3

1. Centre for Environmental Science, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University and BENEFIT-CASCAPE Programme Manager, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2. Wondogenet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Shashemene, Ethiopia
3. School of Environment, Gender and Development Studies, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author email: Eyuelias@gmail.com