EFFECTS OF BLENDED NPS FERTILIZER RATES ON YIELD RELATED TRAITS AND YIELD OF BREAD WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) VARIETIES IN GURAWA DISTRICT, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

read wheat is one of the most important cereals cultivated in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is still low due to low soil fertility, traditional agronomic practices as well as lack of site specific blended fertilizer (NPS)recommendation. Thus, this study was conducted to asses effects of blended NPS fertilizer rates on phenology, growth, yield and yield traits of bread wheat; and to estimate the cost- benefit of blended NPS fertilizer rate(s) for bread wheat production. The experiment was conducted at Haramaya University research station, Gurawa District, during the main crop season in 2020 from July to November. Three varieties (kingbird, Ogolcho and Jaalanne) with five levels of blended NPS fertilizer rates (0, 50,100, 150, 200 kg ha-1 ) in factorial combinations were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Phenology, growth, yield and yield traits parameters were collected and analyzed. The results showed that main effect of varieties and blended NPS fertilizer rates were highly significant on growth and phenology. Main effect of varieties significantly (p<0.05) affected above ground dry biomass and harvest index and highly significant (p<0.01) in kernels per spike and 1000 kernel weight. Main effect blended NPS fertilizer rates was highly significant (P<0.01) in kernels per spike, 1000 kernel weight, straw yield, above ground dry biomass, harvest index and agronomic efficiency. The interaction effect of variety and blended NPS fertilizer rate were highly significant on total tillers and significant on (p <0.05) productive tillers and grain yield. The highest mean value for plant height (85.28 cm), spike length(8.62 cm), days to heading (69.40), days to physiological maturity (113.3), kernels per spike (45.40), thousand kernel weight (44.59 g), above ground dry biomass (10033 kg), were recorded by Jaalanne variety. The lowest mean value in days to heading (65.07), days to physiological maturity (108.5), kernels per spike (41.73), 1000 kernesl weight (38.63 g), above ground dry biomass (9407 kg ha-1 ) and harvest index (35.8%) were recorded by Ogolcho variety. The highest agronomic efficiency (10.78 kg kg-1 NPS) and 1000 kernel weight (46.33 g) were recorded for blended NPS rate of 50 kg ha-1 and 150 kg ha-1 , respectively. The highest plant height (81.08 cm), spike length (8.82 cm), kernels per spike (49.56 g), above ground dry biomass yield (10033 kg ha-1 ), straw yield (6692 kg ha-1 ) and harvest index (38.89%) were recorded at 200 kg blended NPS (ha-1 ). The highest productive tillers (362.3 per m 2 ), grain yield (44.88 kg) and total tillers (384.3 per m 2 ) were recorded when Jaalanne variety treated per 200 kg ha-1 blended NPS. The economic analysis showed that application of 200 kg ha -1 blended NPS with variety Jaalanne gave the highest net benefit of (78178.3) Birr ha-1 , with acceptable marginal rate (358.7%) of return.