Response of barley to different rates of NPS and NPSB Fertilizers in the highland of Bule Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

One of the main constraints for sustainable barley production is lack of information on the use of multi-nutrient fertilizers, involving the actual limiting nutrients for specific site. On farm experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons on two farmers’ field to evaluate the effect of NPS and NPSB, and to determine their optimum rates for barley production in Bulle woreda. The experiment consisted of nine treatments, including control (no fertilizer)(T1); four rates of NPS at 46 kg N. 23.5 kg P, 10 kg S/ha (T2), 69 kg N, 31 kg P, 13 kg S/ha(T3), 92 kg N, 39 kg P, 17 kg S/ha (T4), 92 kg N, 23.5 kg P, 10 kg S/ha (T5); and four rates of NPSB at 46 kg N, 23.5 kg P, 10 kg S, 1.07 kg B/ha(T6), 69 kg N, 31 kg P, 13 kg S, 1.4 kg B /ha (T7), 92 kg N, 39 kg P, 17 kg S, 1.7 kg B/ha(T8) 92 kg N, 23.5 kg P, 10 kg S, 1.07 kg B/ha (T9) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Except the absolute control, all plots received 50 kg K/ha. Results of ANOVA indicated that application of NPS and NPBS significantly (P < 0.05) improved plant height, biomass and grain yield compared to control. NPS application at 92 kg N, 23.5 kg P and 10 kg S + 50 kg K/ha followed by NPSB at 69 kg N, 31 kg P, 13 kg S and 1.4 kg B + 50 kgK/ha recorded highest barley grain yield and resulted in 5271 and 5158 kg/ha, respectively, while the lowest yield was recorded for the unfertilized plot. In general, effects of NPS or NPSB were not significantly different, suggesting that farmers’ could invest in NPS for increased barley production. This treatment also gave higher net benefit with acceptable marginal rate of return even under projected (20%) input price increment.t Therefore, we could recommend the application of 92 kg N, 23.5 kg P and 10 kg S + 50 kg K/ha (142 kg NPS + 142 kg urea + 100 kg KCl kg/ha) for barley production in the study area. The response of barley to NPSB (inclusion of B in NPS) and NPS effect on barley with respect to RNP still needs to be widely investigated.