Abstract :

ABSTRACT

The study explores the impact of nitrogen fertilizer application on food barley cultivation in the Basona Warana District, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, over three consecutive years from the main rainy season of 2013 to 2016. Barley, a significant cereal crop in Ethiopia, faces various challenges such as poor soil fertility, water logging, drought, frost, acidity, diseases, pests, and weed competition, all of which contribute to reduced yields. The experiment applied different nitrogen (N) doses ranging from 0 to 222 kg N ha-1, along with uniform applications of 69 P2O5, 80 K2O, 30 S, 0.5 B, 2 Zn, and 2 Cu kg ha-1 across all plots. The treatments were organized in a completely randomized block design with three replications.

Results indicated significant impacts of nitrogen rates on barley growth and yield components compared to the control treatment. The highest grain and straw yields were observed with the application of 222 kg N ha-1. Economic analysis revealed that the addition of 222 kg N ha-1 resulted in the highest net return of Birr 42,698.7 ha-1 and a marginal rate of return of 471.1%. While consistent yield increments were observed with increased nitrogen rates up to 222 kg N ha-1, practical adoption beyond 92 kg N ha-1 may pose challenges. Thus, farmers should focus on soil fertility management to enhance soil biophysical and chemical properties, particularly considering the low soil organic carbon content, which directly impacts the efficiency of applied nitrogen fertilizer.

Keywords: Balanced fertilization; Food barley; Nitrogen fertilizer.