Productivity, Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Economic Benefits of Food Barley (Hordium vulgare L.) as Influenced by Stages of Nitrogen Split-Application in Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

This experiment was initiated to evaluate the appropriate nitrogen fertilizer split application timing for food barley using for 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 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 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 10.7 % 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: nitrogen fertilizer, split application timing, Nitisols, food barley DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/13-11-04 Publication date: June 30 th 2022