Effect of Timing of Nitrogen Split Application on Productivity, Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Economic Benefits of Food Barley (Hordium vulgare L.) in Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Sakatu Hunduma

doi:10.7176/jnsr/12-9-02

Abstract

This study was planned to identify the appropriate nitrogen fertilizer split application timing for food barley using 'HB-1307' food barley variety. This experiment was done at Holeta Agricultural Research center, West Shoa, Ethiopia. The split nitrogen application times were ½ at planting + ½ at mid tillering, ½ at planting + ½ at anthesis, nil at planting + ½ at mid tillering + ½ at anthesis, nil at planting + full at mid tillering, nil at planting + full at anthesis, ½ at planting + 2/3 at mid tillering, 1/3 at planting + 1/3 mid tillering + 1/3 at anthesis, nil at planting + 1/3 mid tillering + 2/3 at anthesis, 2/3 at planting + 1/3 mid tillering, 2/3 at planting + 1/3 at anthesis, full at planting and negative control. The experiment was laid out randomized complete block design with three replications. Timing of split nitrogen fertilizer applications has significant effect on the yield and yield component of food barley. Application of nitrogen fertilizer one third at sowing plus two third at mid tillering gave the highest grain yield. This application method gave a yield advantage of 9.96 % over the commonly practiced 1/2 at sowing and 1/2 at mid tillering. It also gave the highest economic return and agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency. Keywords: split application timing ,nitrogen fertilizer, nitisols, food barley DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-9-02 Publication date: May 31 st 2021

Highlights

Barley is one of the staple food crops in Ethiopia
Food barley growth yield and yield components were significantly affected by time split N fertilizer application
From the present study it is evident that time of split N applications generally improved grain yield of food barley

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Barley is one of the staple food crops in Ethiopia. Barley assumes fourth position in total cereal production in the world after wheat, rice, and maize. Moll et al,(1982) defined NUE as being the yield of grain per unit of available N in the soil This comes down to developing appropriate recommendations that match crop nutrient requirements fertilizer additions and minimize nutrient losses from fields (Johnston and Bruulsema, 2014). It is very well established that for most crops N must be applied in two or three split doses coinciding with the crop growth stages when its requirement is high it is high time to assess the effect of time of application of the recommended N fertilizer to increase the fertilizer use efficiency in food barley. Splitting N fertilizer application in order to follow the N requirements by the crop throughout the growing season is probably the best strategy to achieve high grain yields. This study was initiated to study the different N time of applications on the yield and yield components of food barley, economic feasibility and agronomic N use efficiency

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULT

Findings

CONCLUSION