RESPONSE OF FOOD BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE L.) PRODUCTIVITY TO N AND P FERTILIZERS AT DIFFERENT PLANTING DATES IN ENDERTA AND HINTALO-WEJERAT DISTRICTS, IN NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Despite its importance, the productivity of barley was low mainly due to soil water and nutrient stresses. This study was, thus, conducted in Dejen (Hintalo-Wejerat district) and Kedamai-weyane (Enderta district) sites in 2016 to investigate the effects of different sowing dates (dry sowing, sowing at the rainfall onset, and late sowing), and N and P fertilizer rates (F0=control, F1=32 kg N and 10.5 kg P ha-1, and F2=64 kg N and 21 kg P ha-1) on barley crop growth and productivity. A split plot design was used where sowing dates and fertilizer rates were assigned in the main- and sub-plots, respectively. Results showed that early sowing offered higher crop biomass (6.8-7.1 tons ha-1) and grain yield (2.1 tons ha-1) in both sites while late sowing resulted in low crop productivity (biomass of 4.4-4.65 tons ha-1 and grain yield of 0.96-1.17 tons ha-1 ). Barley crop performance was excellent especially when early planting was integrated with the application of F2 (64 kg N and 21 kg P ha-1). Application of 64 kg N and 21 kg P ha-1 produced higher biomass (7.1-7.5 tons ha-1), and grain yield (2.0-2.3 tons ha-1) and this was followed by F1. On the other hand, the lowest biomass (3.9-4.6 tons ha-1) and grain yield (0.9-1.1 tons ha-1) was obtained from the control. Cost benefit analysis also indicated that marginal rate of return (MRR) of 496% in Dejen and 486% in Kedamai-weyane were offered by applying F1. As compared with F1, the application of F2 offered more MRR (340% in Dejen and 334% in Kedamai-weyane). Based on this study, F2 is generally recommended for the study area due to its effect on offering higher yield and the returns gained from each unit of currency invested on the fertilizer.