Validation of Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendation for Cotton at Middle Awash Areas, Afar Region

Abstract

The productivity of Cotton, the cash crop in middle awash has been declined due to the deteriorated productivity of soil from miss-management of soil fertility and irrigation water that causes salinity problems. Additionally, application of the optimum rate of the most yield-limiting nutrient, nitrogen fertilizer for cotton varieties is still limiting. This experiment was conducted during 2017–2018 to validate the best and significant results of previously conducted experiments, on larger plots in similar agro-ecology and soil type at Gewane and Amibara districts of the Afar region, Ethiopia. The recommended Nitrogen fertilizer (46 kg ha^-1) and farmer practice (no fertilizer) were replicated thrice per farmers’ field across four experimental sites. Pre-sowing composited and after harvest treatment-wise soil samples were collected and analyzed following the standard procedures. The seed-cotton yield of the field experiment was subjected to analysis of variances using the SAS software program version 9.0. Analysis of variance for combined data over the years and locations reveals that plant height was significantly influenced by locations and also the interaction effects of year-location. In terms of seed-cotton yield, a significant difference was observed due to the effects of locations and treatments applied. Consequently, a significantly higher mean seed-cotton yield (2.89 ton ha^-1) was recorded at 46 kg ha^-1 of Nitrogen fertilizer level over the local practice (without fertilizer) 1.72 ton ha^-1 of seed-cotton yield. Therefore, 46 kg ha^-1 of nitrogen fertilizer is identified as a better management option for cotton production in middle Awash.

Keywords/Phrases: Cotton, Middle-Awash, nitrogen, validation, yield-limiting nutrient

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/10-8-02

Publication date: April 30^th 2020