Abstract
A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to determine effects of vermicompost, inorganic fertilizers and their combinations on nutrient uptake, yield and yield components of wheat. A factorial combination four levels (0, 2, 4 and 6 tha-1) of vermicompost and four levels (0, 33.33, 66.67 and 100% ha-1) of the recommended NPK fertilizers was laid out in RCB design with three replications. Bread wheat variety, Kekaba was used as a test crop. Main effect results indicated that both vermicompost and NPK fertilizers significantly increased yield components, yield and nutrient uptake of wheat. Vermicompost applied at 2, 4 and 6 tha-1 increased grains yield of wheat by 11, 17 and 26% over control respectively whereas 33.33, 66.67 and 100% NPK fertilizers increased the grain yield by 10, 24 and 30%, respectively over the control. Vermicompost applied at 6 tha-1 resulted in the highest nutrient uptake and it increased grain uptake of N, P and K by 51, 110 and 89% over control respectively whereas among fertilizer rates, the highest uptake was produced by 100% NPK treatment and it increased the N, P and K uptake in the grain by were 79, 100 and 96% over control respectively. Combined application of vermicompost and NPK fertilizers has also significantly increased nutrient uptake, yield and yield components of wheat. It is concluded that wheat responds significantly to application of vermicompost and NPK fertilizers suggesting that nutrient contents of experimental soil is low for optimum production of wheat. Field verification and demonstration of results are recommended. Key words: Soil fertility, Nutrient uptake, Grain and biomass yield, Yield components.
Highlights
Bread wheat is one of the major cereal crop produced in Ethiopia
VC3 produced the highest plant height (PHT), spike length (SPL), and number of seeds per spike (NSPSP) of wheat which was followed by VC2 and VC1 in that order and the least values of these parameters were produced in the control treatment
Application of vermicompost significantly increased the yield components, yield and nutrient uptake of wheat grown in the greenhouse suggesting that there was net mineralization of nutrients contained in the vermicompost and availed to the growing wheat
Summary
According to central statistics authority (CSA) of Ethiopia, it is ranked fourth in terms of area cultivated and total production in 2014/2015 main cropping season (CSA, 2015). Wheat grains are used to prepare traditional food and beverages such as Dabbo (homemade bread), Enjera and Nifro, Tela, etc. It is being used by food processing industries to prepare local bread, biscuits, pasta and macaroni. Large area of land cultivated and suitable climate for wheat production in Ethiopia, the country is unable to produce sufficient amount of wheat grain to meet its annual. The low productivity of wheat (
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