Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences (Feb 2024)
FINE-TUNING AND VALIDATION OF BLENDED FERTILIZERS: USING ETHIO-SIS FERTILITY MAPS IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted to validate blended fertilizer to develop site- and crop-specific optimum rate recommendations based on the Ethio-SIS soil fertility map in Alaba and Silti districts of southern Ethiopia during the 2019 cropping season. The experiments consisted of six treatment levels: (1) control, (2) farmers’ practice (100 kg ha-1 of NPSB + 50 kg ha-1 of urea) for maize and Teff at each district, (3) 100% of the recommended rates of N & P from TSP and urea, (4) 50% of the recommended rates of N & P from blended fertilizer and urea, (5) 100% of the recommended rates of N & P from blended fertilizer and urea and (6) 150% of the recommended rates of N & P from blended fertilizer and urea, and arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Based on the study, the maximum grain yield (8,240 kg ha-1), straw yield (18,435 kg ha-1), and biomass yield (25,858 kg ha-1) of maize were obtained from the application of 150% of the recommended rate of nitrogen and phosphorous from the NPSB blended fertilizer source at Alaba districts. Likewise, at Silti, the application of 150% of the recommended rate of nitrogen and phosphorous from the NPSB blended fertilizer source resulted in the maximum Teff grain yield (2,505 kg ha-1), straw yield (5317 kg ha-1) and biomass yield (7,822 kg ha-1). The economic analysis indicated that the application of 150% of the recommended rate nitrogen and phosphorous from the NPSB blended fertilizer source gives a net benefit of 107, 113.50 ETB ha-1 with MRR of 9% 91, 645.70 ETB ha-1 with an MMR of 17% in maize and Teff production in Alaba and Silti districts, respectively. Consequently, based on the findings, I conclude that the application of the NPSB blended fertilizer source significantly improved maize and Teff yield and yield components and increased soil fertility by improving some essential soil nutrients at both sites. Finally, this is a seasonal result, so further study should be done for two years to confirm and for the applicability of the current finding.
