Abstract
Ethiopian soils deficiency in Sulfur, boron, zinc, potassium, copper, manganese and iron potentially hold back crop productivity despite continued use of N and P fertilizers as per the blanket recommendation. Hence a field experiment was initiated to investigate the response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to NPS and urea fertilizers based on soil test under balanced condition. The study contained 14 treatments: Control, Recommended NP, 3 levels of NPS kgha<sup>-1</sup> (150, 200, 300) and 3 levels of urea kgha<sup>-1</sup> (150, 250, 350). The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The results showed that NPS and urea rates of application significantly influenced yield and yield component of maize as compared to the control but non-significant difference as compared to the recommended NP rate. But the economics of fertilizer rates revealed that the maximum net benefit (37975.8 EB) was attained from the application of (150 NPS + 150 urea) kgha<sup>-1</sup>. From this study, it has been clearly understood that NPS and urea application to maize in this site beyond these rates or using recommended NP rate may not be economical and desirable. Therefore, this application rate may save farmers from incurring extra costs for recommended NP fertilizer, which is in excess for the study area.
Highlights
Maize crop for the study area produced in larger volume compared with other crops because it is the principal staple crop [12]
In addition to nitrogen and phosphorus, sulfur, boron and zinc deficiencies are widespread in Ethiopian soils, while some soils are deficient in potassium, copper, manganese and iron [4], which all potentially hold back crop productivity despite continued use of N and P fertilizers as per the blanket recommendations
The result of two consecutive years was non-significance effect on Yield and some yield component of maize when compared with the recommended NP fertilizer
Summary
Maize crop for the study area produced in larger volume compared with other crops because it is the principal staple crop [12]. The national average productivity of maize in Ethiopia is quite low (3.36 tons ha-1) compared to the global average productivity of 10 to 12 tons ha-1 [2] This low productivity of maize is mainly attributed to many factors including frequent occurrence of drought, lack of site specific fertilizer recommendations and declining soil fertility [7], poor weed management, low plant population, limited use of inputs, poor seed quality, disease and pests [6, 7, 14]. Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and Urea had been the main sources of N and P nutrients respectively for Shiferaw Temteme: Response of Hybrid Maize (Zea mays L.) to NPS and Urea Fertilizer Rate on Nitisols of Yeki District, Sheka Zone, Ethiopia many years. In order to solve these difficulties and to increase the efficiencies of th e most limiting plant nutrient, soil test-based crop response studies under balanced fertilizer studies would be conducted with the following objective
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