Better Barley Yield at Hankomolicha Sidama Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil acidity is one of the major yields limiting factors for crop production in the Southren of Sidama Region, Ethiopia. A study experiment was done on acid soils to assess the ameliorating capacity of lime when applied in split application and its effects on Barley yield and selected soil properties in the study area. And The treatment was arranged five levels of lime such as control (T1):(without any input), (T2):(25% of the full dose of lime, 25% of the dose applied in the first year, 25% in the second year, 25% in the third year and the rest 25% in the (T3) 33% of the dose applied in the first year, 33% in the second year and the rest 33% in the third year, (T4) 50% of the dose applied in the first year and the rest 50% in the second year, (T5) 100% of the Full dose of lime apply on each treatment based on the experimental objectives, and laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Lime requirement was determined based on exchangeable acidity of the soil. Soil analysis revealed that split lime application at different year raised soil pH from 4.73 to 5.07 and reduced the exchangeable acidity from 1.09 - 0.74 cmolc/kg of soil. Likewise yield of Barley was significantly affected by the treatments. In order to reduce the large amounts of lime at once, split application of lime also gave similar higher yield of Barley as that of at 33% of the full dose split lime application. However, for sustainable and drastically increments of productivity of barley production in Hankomolicha southern Ethiopia. 33% of the full dose of split lime application had shown positive response on soil reaction and Exchangeable acidity. Therefore, application of lime at once is un-affordable due to large amounts required per hectare of land and split application of lime could be considered as an alternative option for poor resource farmers for sustainable soil health and crop productivity.