Yield and Quality of Malt Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Response to Special Liquid Fertilizer (Trafos Synergy) Application in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Fertilizer application requirement to crops varies from location to location due to several factors. Thus, there is a need to evaluate response of yield and quality of malt barley to liquid fertilizer applications. Accordingly, an experiment was conducted to evaluate different dose of liquid fertilizer applications on yield and yield components of malt barley at Welmera (Holeta and Telecho) and Ejere (Cheri) districts during 2016 and 2017 main cropping season. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were different doses of Trafos synergy with the recommended NP, that is,0, 100% NP, 100% NP + Trafos synergy 4 L/ha, 100% NP + Trafos synergy 2 L/ha and 100% NP + Trafos synergy 6 L/ha). Applications of recommended NP and Trafos synergy liquid nutrient sources in combination had a significant (p<0.05) effect on grain and biomass yield of malt barley. The highest grain yield (3251.1kg/ha) was obtained from the application of 100% NP + Trafos synergy 6 L/ha) at Cheri. Based on economic analysis, application of 100% recommended NP with Trafos synergy 4 L/ha fertilizer at HARC and Cheri site indicates promising for barley production on yield and grain quality.

Keywords: Grain quality, Trafos synergy, protein content

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-3-07