Effects of Blended NPSB Fertilizer Rates on Selected Soil Properties at Banshure Kebele, in Bedele District, South Western Ethiopia.

Abstract

Balanced fertilizer application is an important management practice to improve soil fertility and quality in the agricultural lands. In present study, we examined the effects of nine different rates of blended NPSB fertilizer rates on soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, available sulphur (ava.S), available boron (ava.B) and available phosphorus (ava.P) in the plowed layer (0-20cm). The results obtained from this study indicated that, the values of soil pH obtained from all treatments are lower than that of soil pH before fertilizer application. The application of fertilizer have remarkably improved soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) values compared with soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) recorded before fertilization. Except soil total nitrogen (TN) and soil organic carbon (SOC), application of different rates of blended NPSB fertilizer were highly significantly affected the values of soil pH, available phosphorus (ava.P), available sulphur (ava.S), and available boron (ava.B). The highest values of available phosphorus (ava.P), available sulphur (ava.S), and available boron (ava.B) were obtained from the plot treated with the highest (300kg/ha) fertilizer rate, were as the lowest was recorded from the control plot. Unlike available phosphorus (ava.P), available sulphur (ava.S), and available boron (ava.B), the values of soil pH recorded after fertilizer application becomes declined as the rate of fertilizer applied to the soil is increased dramatically. Thus, these indicated that, as the rate of blended NPSB fertilizer increased soil acidity becomes increased due to the presence of soil acidifying compounds such as nitrate, sulphate and boric acid in blended form.

Key words: - Soil fertility, blended fertilizer, soil acidity

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/16-1-02

Publication date: January 30^th 2025