Validation of NP Fertilizer Rates on Medium Maturing Maize Varieties at Jimma, South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Maize is the primary staple crop in Ethiopia and plays an important role in the livelihood of the people of Ethiopia. However, its productivity is very low mainly due to low soil fertility and use approved maize varieties. After three years on farm field study of NP Fertilizer Rates on medium maturing maize varieties further evaluation and validation was conducted to determine optimum NP fertilizer rates and best medium maturing maize variety at Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia during 2019 main cropping season. The experiment had two N/P₂O₅; 92/69 and 115/86 kg ha^-1 and two medium maturing maize varieties. Each treatment was assigned to each plot in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in factorial arrangement. Data on the yield and yield components were subjected to ANOVA using SAS version 9.3. The highest grain yield 7350 kg ha^-1 and above ground biomass 14.53 ton ha^-1 were recorded from BH547 with application of 115/86 kg ha^-1 N/P₂O₅ fertilizer rate which was statistically at par with planting BH546 maize variety and application of 92/69 kg ha^-1 N/P₂O₅ fertilizer rate with the highest net benefit 41,855 Ethiopian Birr ha^-1. Therefore, a medium maturing maize variety BH546 with the application of 92/69 kg ha^-1 N/P₂O₅ fertilizer rates can be taken as optimal and recommended for farmers under rain fed condition in Omonada woreda of Jimma zone and other similar humid agro-ecologies of the southwestern Ethiopia.

Keywords: Maize variety, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and fertilizer rate

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-21-04

Publication date: November 30^th 2020