Effect of Timing of Nitrogen Split Application on Productivity, Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Economic Benefits of Food Barley (Hordium vulgare L.) in Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was planned to identify the appropriate nitrogen fertilizer split application timing for food barley using 'HB-1307' food barley variety. This experiment was done at Holeta Agricultural Research center, West Shoa, Ethiopia. The split nitrogen  application times were  ½  at planting + ½  at mid tillering,  ½   at planting + ½  at anthesis, nil at planting + ½ at mid tillering + ½  at anthesis, nil at planting + full at mid tillering, nil at planting + full at anthesis,  ½   at planting + 2/3 at mid tillering, 1/3  at planting + 1/3 mid tillering + 1/3 at anthesis, nil  at planting + 1/3 mid tillering +  2/3 at anthesis, 2/3 at planting + 1/3 mid tillering,  2/3  at planting + 1/3 at anthesis, full at planting and negative control. The experiment was laid out randomized complete block design with three replications. Timing of split nitrogen fertilizer applications has significant effect on the yield and yield component of food barley. Application of nitrogen fertilizer one third at sowing plus two third at mid tillering gave the highest grain yield. This application method gave a yield advantage of 9.96 % over the commonly practiced 1/2 at sowing and 1/2 at mid tillering. It also gave the highest economic return and agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency.

Keywords: split application timing ,nitrogen fertilizer, nitisols, food barley

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-9-02

Publication date:May 31^st 2021