Abstract
Maize is a major staple crop grown and widely consumed in western Ethiopia but it is low due to declining soil fertility and requires application of high fertilizer for optimum production. A field experiment was carried out on farmers’ field to study the effect of blended NPSB and urea fertilizer rate on yield and yield components, and economics of highland maize for two consecutive cropping seasons on Ultisol of Liben Jawi district. Three rates of nitrogen (150 250 and 350 kg urea ha-1) and four rates of blended NPSB (150, 200, 250 and 300 kg NPSB ha-1) were combined in factorial arrangement forming 12 treatments and tested with negative control and recommended (119/69 kg NP ha-1). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Combined application of blended NPSB and Urea was significantly affected mean yield and yield components of maize. Significantly higher biomass and grain yield of maize were obtained with application of higher nitrogen and blended NPSB fertilizer rate. Higher mean dry biomass yield of 21333 kg ha-1 and grain yield of 6975 kg ha-1 of maize was obtained with application of 350/300 kg urea/NPSB ha-1 fertilizer rate. Application of 250/250 kg urea/NPSB ha-1 gave net return of EB 44216 and higher marginal rate return of 2036 % for highland maize production. Therefore, application of 250/250 kg urea/NPSB ha-1 fertilizer rate was recommended for highland maize production and economic return in Ultisol of Liben Jawi and similar agroecologies.
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