Impact of Blended Fertilizer Rates on Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Economic Viability in Northern Ethiopia
Berhanu Meles *
Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Axum Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 230, Axum, Ethiopia.
Atsede Teklu
Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Axum Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 230, Axum, Ethiopia.
Yonas Gebremariam
Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Axum Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 230, Axum, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield and yield responses of bread wheat to different amounts of blended fertilizer in two different locations: Hatsebo and Ahferom in northern Ethiopia. The experiment, conducted during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons, included seven treatments for both locations. The research followed a randomized complete block design with three replications.
In Hatsebo, results showed that application of 250 and 300 kg ha-1 NPSB resulted in the highest above-ground biomass (10,000 and 10,853 kg ha-1) and grain yield (3,768 & 3,899 kg ha-1). However, the optimal economic yield of 307,747.3 Eth-birr per hectare with a marginal return of 8,404.3% was achieved with the application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSB.
The results at Ahferom showed that the NPKSZnB rate significantly influenced the yield and related traits of bread wheat. The highest grain yield (4,163 kg ha-1) and an economic return of 678,631.8 Eth-birr per hectare with a marginal return of 7,135.6% were achieved with the application of 150 kg ha-1 NPKSZnB. The different yields of different fertilizer treatments in different soils show how important a soil-specific fertilization strategy is for increasing production. However, the partial budget analysis showed that treating the soils of the different sites (Hatsebo and Ahferom) with 100 kg NPSB and 150 kg NPKSZnB ha-1, respectively, achieved the maximum net benefit and marginal return. Therefore, it is recommended to use 100 kg ha-1 NPSB in Hatsebo District and 150 kg ha-1 NPKSZnB in Ahferom District and similar agroecological areas, taking into account economic indicators in addition to yield response.
Keywords: Blended fertilizers, bread wheat, economic profitability, Northern Ethiopia, wheat yield