The Influence of Applying Lime and NPK Fertilizers on Yield of Maize and Soil Properties on Acid Soil of Areka, Southern Region of Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil acidity is one of the major soil problems that limit agricultural productivity in the mid andhighlands of Ethiopia. For its strong acid neutralizing effect, liming is the most frequently usedpractice to treat acid soils. This study was conducted to know the effect of lime and NPK nutrients onthe yield of maize and soil chemical properties on acid soils of Areka. Five levels of NPK (Check,NP, NK, PK, NPK) and three levels of lime (0, half and full dose of the required amount) werearranged in a factorial experiment using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with threereplications. Urea, TSP, and Potassium chloride were used as the sources of NPK, respectively,whereas calcitic limestone was used as the source of lime. The lime was applied one month beforeplanting of the test crop. Nitrogen was applied in split, half at planting and half at knee height (45 daysafter planting). The whole doses of TSP and KCl were applied at planting time. Soil samples werecollected from 0-30 cm before planting (one composite sample from the experimental site) and atharvest (from each treatment plot) to evaluate different soil chemical properties and analyzed usingstandard laboratory procedures. Crop data such as plant height, biomass yield and grain yield werecollected and analysed using SAS program. Application of full dose lime (1800 kg/ha) with 69 kg Nand 20 kg P/ha gave significantly higher result than the control and the plot that received onlyfertilizer (without lime). Application of NP + full dose lime significantly increased maize productionover the NK and PK treatments whether NK and PK are applied alone or with both doses of lime.Application of lime alone did not influence maize production at Areka. Application of NP significantlyincreased maize production over the control and lime alone treatments both in the first and secondyears of the experiment. Application of NK either alone or with half dose of lime did not increasemaize production over the non-fertilized treatment (control). But it increased maize productionsignificantly over the control treatment when integrated with full dose of lime. Soil analysis indicatedthat pH, P, Ca and CEC were increased with application of lime. In conclusion, enough amount ofNP should be applied with the required amount of lime for better production of maize at acidic soil ofAreka. Therefore, 69 kg N/ha and 20 kg P/ha with 1800 kg lime/ha are recommended for betterproduction of maize at Areka.

Keywords: Lime, NPK fertilizers, Residual effect