Effects of Seed and NPSB Rate on Yield and Yield Related Traits of Emmer Wheat (Triticumdiccocum) in the Highlands of Bale, South Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at three districts (Sinana, Goba and Agarfa) of Bale zone for three years from 2020-2022 during the main cropping season with the objective of elucidating the effects of seeding and NPSB rate on agronomic performance of emmer wheat. The experimental design in all locations was RCBD with three replications. Four seeding rates (75,100, 125 and, 150 kg ha-1) and four fertilizer levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg NPSB ha-1) were used as a treatments. The main effects of seeding and NPSB rate significantly influenced emmer wheat grain yield and bio-mass yield, while interaction effects significantly influenced (p<0.05) thousand kernel weight and kernels per spike. Plant height, spike length and harvest index were not significantly influenced by applied seeding and NPSB rates. Main effects of seeding and NPSB rate significantly and variably influenced grain and bio-mass yield of emmer wheat. The highest grain yield 3506 kg ha-1 and 34069 kg ha-1 were recorded from 125 kg ha-1seed rate and 100 kg ha-1NPSB rate, respectively. The highest bio-mass yield 9693 kg ha-1and 10222 kg ha-1 were recordedfrom150 kg ha-1seed rate and 150 kg ha-1 NPSB rate, respectively. The .highest (56.7 kernels per spike and 50g thousand kernel weight) were obtained from the interaction effects of 125 kg ha-1 seed rate and100 kg ha-1 NPSB rate, respectively. According to the result of this study optimum emmer wheat grain yield was obtained at seeding rate of 125kg ha-1and 100 kg NPSB ha-1. Economic analysis also indicated that economically feasible emmer wheat and NPSB rate were 125 kg ha-1 and 100 kg ha-1, respectively. Therefore, emmer wheat producing farmers in the study area and similar agro-ecologies should use seeding rate of 125 kg ha-1and NPSB rate 100 kg ha-1 to realize maximum grain yield of emmer wheat.