Evaluation of Balanced Fertilizer Types and Validation of Soil Fertility Map Based Fertilizer Recommendations

Abstract

Recently acquired soil inventory data from EthioSIS indicated that sulfur (S), born (B), zinc (Zn) and potassium (K) deficiencies are widespread in addition to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in most of Ethiopian cultivated soils. Thus, a field study was conducted to evaluate the yield response of wheat to K, S, B and Zn fertilizers as compared to the conventional recommended NP fertilizers. The study was undertaken in Jamma and Wereillu Districts of South Wollo Zone of Amhara region in 2014 and 2015. The study comprised six blended fertilizer formulas (F1: NPS (100 kg ha^-1), F2: NPSB (100 kg ha^-1), F4: NPSBZN (100 kg ha^-1), F6: modified F4 (150 kg ha^-1), F7: modified F5 (NPKSZnB) (150 kg ha^-1)) and the recommended NP fertilizers (69/46 kg ha^-1 N/P₂O₅). Nitrogen was applied as urea in split half at planting and half at tillering. In the first year K, S and P were applied all at planting as muriate of potash (KCl), calcium sulphate (CaSO4) and Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), respectively, while, Zn (ZnSO₄) and B (Borax) were sprayed as foliar application at 45 and 60 days after planting, respectively. While, in the second year, all fertilizers were applied as blended fertilizer except N and K, which were applied as urea and KCl forms, respectively. Results indicated that there was no significant (p>0.05) yield response to the application of S, K, B and Zn nutrients as compared to the recommended NP fertilizers. This might be due to either the optimum level of the nutrients in the soil or the insufficient level of the nutrients used in the study might have failed to influence the yield of wheat. With this study, it is hardly possible to conclude those nutrients were not limiting for the growth of wheat in the study districts. Further comprehensive study with higher rates of the nutrients and with the support of soil and plant tissue analysis apart from yield data should be done.

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-21-01

Publication date: November 30^th 2019