Effect of Blended Fertilizer Application on Bread Wheat Yield and Profitability on Andosols of Southwestern Highlands of Ethiopian

Abstract

ABSTRACT Continuous use of only nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) containing fertilizers is claimed to be the causes of other secondary and micronutrients depletion, resulting in low crop productivity in Ethiopia. In this study, on-farm trials were conducted to compare the effect of multi-nutrient blended fertilizer – also called Sulfur (S) zinc (Zn) boron (B) (NPSZnB: 17.7 N – 35.3P2O5 – 7.6S – 0.25B-2.2Zn) on the yield and yield components of bread wheat grown in Andosols in south western Ethiopia during 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. Seven treatments involving five levels of sulfur-zinc-born-blend fertilizer (50, 100, 150, 200, 300 kg NPSZnB kg ha−1) were compared against a compound fertilizer (100 kgha−1 NPS) and the conventionally used 150 kg ha−1 di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). For all treatments, 100 kg ha−1 was applied. The seven treatments were replicated three times using farm fields as replicates and arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results revealed no significant yield advantages of applying micronutrient containing fertilizers compared to fertilizers without micronutrients. The marginal rate of return analysis showed that the application of 100 NPSZnB kg ha−1 was the most profitable. Season had a significant (p < .001) effect on bread wheat yield. ZnB blended fertilizer was advantageous when applied during good rainy seasons in Andosols of Ethiopian highlands. For good performances of ZnB blended fertilizers, taking into account, the soil moisture availability is advised for better productivity and profitability.