INTEGRATED USE OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER IMPROVES MALT BARLEY YIELDS, QUALITY AND SOIL PROPERTIES ON NITISOLS OF CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Declining soil fertility is one of the major problems causing reduction of malt barley yield and quality in Ethiopia. A field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer application on yield and yield components of malt barley at Welmera district. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed significant difference among treatments for most yield and yield components. Combined application of 50% vermicompost and 50% recommended NP resulted in the highest plant height (103.5 cm), spike length (7.9 cm), biomass yield (12793 kg/ha) and grain yield (3558.5 kg/ha). Application of organic fertilizer improved soil pH, OC, total N and available P of the soil. The highest net benefits (41843 Birr/ha) with marginal rate of return (14802.1%) was also recorded for the same treatment. Therefore, the application of half recommended rate NP together with half of vermicompost, based on N equivalence is recommended to obtain grain yield and improve soil fertility