Influence of N and P Fertilizer Rate on the Yield and Yield Components Bread Wheat in Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Bread wheat fertilizer response trial was conducted on farmers' fields at major bread wheat growing areas, Womberema and Debre Elias districts, northwestern Ethiopia in 2012 and 2013. The principal objective of the trial was to determine economic optimum rates of N and P fertilizer for these areas.  Three N rates (92, 184, 276) kg/ha and three P₂O₅ rates (30, 60, 90) kg/ha were tested including previously recommended rate (138/46 kg/ha N /P₂O₅) as a control. Factorial RCBD with three replications was used. The results indicate an extremely high grain yield response to N and a lesser, but significant, response to P. Both locations responded similarly in both years for N and P levels since the three and three way interaction components (N X P, N x P X location and N x P X year) were confirmed statistically not significant. Almost all yield and yield components were responded positively with the application of N and P. The highest grain yield of 5194.1 kg/ha was recorded at the highest NP level of 276/90 kg/ha N /P₂O₅, representing a yield increase of 1681.1 kg/ ha over the control (i.e., 136/46 kg/ha N /P₂O₅) treatment.

Keywords: economic, interaction, control