Abstract
PurposeDepletion of soil fertility accounts for the low yield and quality of malting barley (Hordeum vulgare) in Ethiopia. Mineral fertilizers can counteract nutrient depletion but are unaffordable by low-input farmers. Organic amendments can contribute to correct soil degradation but are often unavailable in the required amounts. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of combined use of organic and mineral amendments on the yield and quality of malting barley, and on selected soil chemical properties at Lemu-Bilbilo district in the southeastern highlands of Ethiopia.MethodsEight treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications to compare sole and integrated applications of organic and mineral nutrient sources on crop performance attributes and selected soil characteristics.ResultsApplication of 2.82 t ha−1 compost or 1.07 t ha−1 farmyard manure (FYM) along with 18–10 kg ha−1 N–P gave 4234–4443 kg ha−1 grain yield with 15–17 and 32–39% increase over sole organic amendments and control, respectively, and 757% economic benefit. Combining organic and mineral fertilizers also gave 7–17 and 1–6% increase in available soil P and total N content of the soil.ConclusionCombined application of 50% recommended compost (RC) or 50% recommended FYM (RFYM) + 50% recommended NP (RNP) or 33% RC + 33% RFYM + 33% RNP enhanced yield, grain quality, soil attributes and economic benefits. Therefore, integration of organic and mineral amendments is recommended as best agronomic and economic optimum soil fertility management options for sustainable malting barley production in the southeastern highlands of Ethiopia.
Highlights
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) ranks fifth next to teff (Eragrostis tef), maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghun bicolor) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Ethiopia, and third after wheat and teff in the southeastern highlands of Ethiopia
Malting barley accounts for about 90% of the raw materials cost in beer production in Ethiopia (USDA GAIN 2014)
The rainy season starts in March and continues to October with the highest precipitation occurring in July and August (Fig. 2)
Summary
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) ranks fifth next to teff (Eragrostis tef), maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghun bicolor) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Ethiopia, and third after wheat and teff in the southeastern highlands of Ethiopia. It is grown annually on 1 million hectares of land in a wide range of environments in the country (CSA 2014). Malting barley accounts for about 90% of the raw materials cost in beer production in Ethiopia (USDA GAIN 2014) It has become a very important industrial crop in the country since the establishment of Saint George Brewery in 1974. The inauguration of Gonder malt factory in 2015 and the blooming of many more breweries created greater demands for malting barley (Berhane et al 2016)
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