Effect of Integrated Application of Compost and Blended NPS Fertilizer on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties and Yield of Food Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) at Welmera District, Ethiopia

• Published in: World journal of agricultural sciences : WJAS 2022-01, Vol.18 (1), p.1
• Main Authors: Ajema, Worku, Wakgari, Tesfaye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Agrochemicals; Barley; Bulk density; Cereal crops; Composting; Composts; Crop production; Crop yield; Crops; Depletion; Essential nutrients; Fertilizers; Food; Food production; Hordeum vulgare; Hydroxyapatite; Mineral fertilizers; Nutrient content; Nutrient status; Nutrients; Organic carbon; Organic matter; Organic phosphorus; Organic soils; Phosphorus; Physicochemical properties; Planting; Porosity; Productivity; Small farms; Soil conditions; Soil fertility; Soil improvement; Soil management; Soil nutrients; Soil organic matter; Soil porosity; Soil properties; Sulfur
• ISSN: 1817-3047; 1817-5082
• DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjas.2022.01.14

Soil nutrient depletion under losing of soil organic matter content as a result of continuous cultivation and low input are among the major problems that constrain the sustainable productivity of yield of barley at Welmera district. Integrated application of compost and NPS fertilizers can be used to resolve this condition of soil. In this context, a study was conducted in 2019/2020 to determine the effect of combined use of compost and NPS blended fertilizer on soil physicochemical properties and yield of barley at Welmera district. In order to achieve this objective, field experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement and replicated three times. Soil samples were collected before and after planting for laboratory analysis. The results of this study showed that bulk density and total porosity of study area before planting were in acceptable range for barley crop production. In contrary to this the pH of the experimental soil was out of suitable range for barley production in which there is possibility of deficiency of most essential nutrients. The low content of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available sulfur made the fertility status of the soils low. To improve this condition of soil conventional compost and NPS fertilizer were applied to study area soil and combined application of compost at (8 t ha-1) and mineral NPS fertilizer at (150 kg ha-1) gave yield of 5.96 t ha-1. Therefore, based on the result of this study it can be concluded that low soil fertility status, which requires an urgent attention, is one of the major factors hampering the production and productivity of food barley at study area. In resolving this situation, the use of combined application of compost along with NPS fertilizers was justified to improve soil organic matter and nutrient contents that are important in enhancing soil fertility status and in turn to increase barley crop yields. However, the potential barley productivity of study area soil has not yet been exploited. Therefore, solving the soil fertility problems of the soils of study area through integrated application of compost and NPS fertilizer could be one option to reduce the yield gap seen between smallholder farmers and experimental fields. Hence, the current study recommends that in order to maintain soil fertility and sustain barley crop production combined application of compost at 8 t ha-1 and NPS fertilizer at 150 kg ha-1 can be the be