Effect of inorganic fertilizer types on yield performance of barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) genotypes and soil characteristics under acidic soil conditions

Abstract

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world and staple food grain, for Ethiopian highlanders. However, the barley productivity is commonly influenced by different biotic and abiotic factors. Soil acidity is one of environmental factors affecting growth and crop yield. Field experiment was conducted under acidic soil of Hagereselam, southern Ethiopia in 2019 cropping season to evaluate yield performance of barley genotypes and soil characteristics under different inorganic fertilizer types. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with factorial arrangement with three replication and consisted of four fertilizer types (control or only urea, NP, NPS and NPSB) and four barley genotypes (217176b, 240478, 234911b and 208855b) and one barley variety (HB- 1307). Barley Genotype 217176b with NPSB fertilizer exhibited the highest grain yield of 4.9 ton ha-1. This did not significantly differ from the yield obtained from the same genotype under NP (4.72 ton ha-1) and genotype 240478 with NPSB fertilizer application (4.58 ton ha-1). Genotypes 217176b and 240478 were categorized as efficient in nutrient use and responsive to fertilization under the evaluation. The highest marginal rate of return
(3745) was recorded for genotype 217176b with the application of the recommended rate of NPSB fertilizer. Greater net benefit with above the threshold marginal rate of return (100%) was also obtained for the same genotype with NP fertilization. Similarly economically acceptable marginal rate of return were obtained for genotype 240478 either with NPSB or NP fertilization. Given the fact that grain yield performance between the two genotypes in combinations either with NPSB or NP is not statistically significant, either of the two genotypes with the NPSB or NP fertilizer can be recommended for barley production in acidic soils of Hagereselam and acidic soils of similar agro-ecologies in the highlands of Ethiopia.