Effects of Lime, Blended Fertilizer (NPSB) and Compost on Yield and Yield Attributes of Barley (Hordium Vulgare L.) on Acid Soils of Wolmera District, West Showa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil acidity is a major yielding limiting factors in the highlands of Ethiopia wherehighly weathered acid soils. This in view a field experiment was executed toinvestigate the effect lime, blended fertilizer and compost application onproductivity of barley and soil fertility at Telecho, Wolmera district, in thehighlands of western Ethiopia in 2015 cropping season. The experiment consisted ofnine treatments which was laid out in a randomized complete block design with 3replicates. Lime requirement was determined based exchangeable acidity.Application of lime was dramatically improved soil pH from 3.80 to pH levelranging from 6.63 to 6.86. Yield and yield components of barley was significantly(p<0.05) affected by integrated use of lime, blended fertilizer and compost.Significantly higher yield 5386 kg ha -1 and nutrient uptake N (74), P (19.65), K(16.05) and S (15) kg ha -1 of barley were obtained with application of 611kg lime + 5 tcompost + 150 kg NPSB + 100 kg KCl +72 kg N ha -1 . Higher net return EB 30633 ha -1with marginal rate of return of 667 % of barley was obtained with application of611kg lime + 2.5 t compost + 75 kg NPSB + 50 kg KCl +36 kg N ha -1 . Thus,integrated use of 611kg lime + 2.5 t compost + 75 kg NPSB + 50 kg KCl +36 kg N ha -1is recommended for barley production in acid soil of Telecho, Wolmera district andsimilar agroecologies.