Review on Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Wheat (Triticum spp) in Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil fertility maintenance requires a balanced application of inorganic and organic nutrient sources. Wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) is a dominant cereal crop of north-western zone of India and it is second most common crop of the country.  Ethiopia is the second largest wheat producer, after South Africa, in Sub-Saharan Africa. Wheat is one of the major staple crops in the country in terms of both production and consumption. In terms of caloric intake, it is the second--most important food in the country behind maize. Sustainable agricultural productivity might be achieved through a wise use of integrated nutrient management. Integrated use of chemical and organic fertilizer on yield and yield components of wheat is very crucial for assurance of food security.  Integrated nutrient supply/management (INS) aims at maintenance or adjustment of soil fertility and plant nutrient supply to an optimum level for sustaining the desired crop productivity through optimization of benefit from all possible sources of plant nutrients in an integrated manner which includes; Maintain or enhance soil productivity through a balanced use of fertilizers combined with organic and biological sources of plant nutrients. Improve the stock of plant nutrients in the soils, and the efficiency of plant nutrients, thus, limiting losses to the environment. The integrated nutrient management system (INMS), nevertheless, remains the maintenance and possible improvement of soil fertility for sustained crop productivity on long term-basis and also to reduce inorganic (fertilizer) input cost. Different kinds of organic materials such as FYM, animal manures, green manures, crop residues, composts, and industrial wastes have been used in wheat systems. The amount and availability of nutrients in organic materials vary widely, which makes interpretation of the value of nutrients supplied. The literatures lines of research in wheat are presented in an elaborative method were reviewed in this paper.

Keywords: Integrated nutrient management, organic fertilizer, Chemical fertilizer Bio-fertilizer