Evaluation of Urea and NPKS Fertilizer and Seed Rates for Wheat Crop at Selected FTC Sites of East Gojam Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

To meet the food demand and the need of emerging agro-industries in the country, increasing the production and productivity of wheat with appropriate soil management practice is important. Therefore, field study was conducted with the objectives of evaluating application of Urea and NPKS fertilizer and seed rates for wheat crop at selected FTC sites of East Gojam Zone during the 2015/2016 cropping season. Kekeba wheat variety was used in the research. The research consisted  of six treatments, i.e. combined application of three rates (Package, Innovation and Framers’ practice) of urea and NPKS fertilizer and two seed rates (recommended and farmers practice) were arranged in RCBD  with three replications. The data were subjected to two-way ANOVA using SAS program [version 9] and comparisons of means were performed using the LSD. The results of ANOVA showed that except the number of spike and number of grains per spike, all other yield and yield attributes were significant affected by Urea and NPKS fertilizers and seed rates application. the longest plant height and spike length,  and the maximum total above ground biomass  and straw yield were recorded from the application of 322 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +200kg seed/ha. Even though it was non-significant, much number of spikes was counted from the application of 322 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +200kg seed/ha at Enereta site. A lot of fertile tillers were counted from the applications of 300 kg Urea + 100kg NPKS +200kg seed/ha at the two sites. The less number of fertile tillers were counted from the use of 100 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +200kg seed/ha and 322 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +100kg seed/ha at Campus and Enereta FTC respectively. The highest grain yields were measured by the application of 300 kg Urea + 100kg NPKS +100kg and of 322 kg Urea + 200kg NPKS +200kg at Campus and at Enereta FTC respectively. Generally at Enereta FTC, the optimum amount of urea, NPKS and seed rate can be estimated as 300/322 kg Urea, 100kg /200kg NPKS and 200/200 kg seed respectively. At campus site the optimum amount of urea, NPKS and seed rate can be estimated as 300 /300 kg Urea, 100/100kg NPKS and 100/200 kg seed respectively. However, their economic rates of fertilizer and seed applications would have to be assessed to achieve sustainable crop yields. Unlike to soil of the campus, soils of Enereta FTC was highly depleted  so that optimum plant growth and better production can be obtained from higher dose of urea, and NPKS, but adequate soil analysis must be made for both sites. In general, management activities for the crop and these soils; should be practiced, and the strategies for which should be applied according to either the package or Innovative fertilizer use practice.

Keywords: Innovative fertilizer, blended fertilizer, Urea, Kekeba variety